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Specialization in Veterinary Surgery is the need of the hour; Says Veterinary Surgery Scientists

          Although Specialization in the field of Veterinary Surgery has existed for a few decades, there has been renewed interest of late in super speciality areas similar to human medicine. This is attributed primarily because of a strong desire to super-specialise and the need and concern about quality professional service delivered to the stake holders . We have to agree with the fact that quality of professional services needs to be improved in depth in many areas of surgery and imaging. If this is not executable in institutions, the regional centres can be developed in few locations in this country with the necessary expertise and infrastructure to propagate advancements in veterinary surgical skills. Says Prof. S.Thilagar Ph.D, DEAN, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education,Pondicherry.

Many of the advances in human diagnostic medicines have been translated into veterinary medicine in the developed countries. Modern techniques of imaging such as the Image Intensifier T.V.System, Ultrasonography, Computed tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Bone scintigraphy, Digital Substraction angiography ,Laparoscopy,Arthroscopy and Endoscopy, specialised surgical procedure like Total hip replacements, elbow replacements, TPLO, Cardio Vascular surgeries, , Kidney transplantation, Ophthalmic surgeries, laser surgeries etc needs to be delivered to animals on a consistent basis and should be made available in both teaching hospitals as well as speciality veterinary centres in all the major cities in India.Veterinary sciences has received a great deal of attention from the governments in the last two decades. Many states have endeavoured to promote the livestock sector to improve the quality of life of the farming community. Veterinary universities have been developed in many states to cater to the demands of the livestock and pet owners. There has been a rapid and massive development of the veterinary sciences leading to an increasing diversification at universities with the creation of many disciplines, training program, CVE program both in clinical and basic veterinary sciences. We need to develop a system to suit the needs of our country instead of blindly aping the west. Animal husbandry does not figure prominently in US as it does in India. In the US, veterinarians are more concerned with pet and companion animal practice.

The reason for poor growth of specialization in the field of veterinary surgery and imaging are trained faculty not working in their area of expertise. Lack of interest/poor quality of faculty due to extraneous factors in selection process, Poor infrastructure, Lack of adequate funds to train/establish infrastructure at the institutional level, Non availability of a central body/board to prescribe, monitor and enforce minimum standards of veterinary services,Importance given to PhD qualification for teaching faculty rather than acquisition of specialized skills, Institutional policy on transfer and No procedure available to certify and differentiate highly trained veterinarians from veterinarians with no specialized skills .The US and other developed countries grant board certification and diplomates for individuals who have undergone specialized training and passed competitive exams in various disciplines
The recommendation of the National Symposium will be form a base for formulating future strategies to be evolved for specialization and superspecialization in Veterinary Surgery and Imaging studies for treatment of Livestock and Companion animals. The Annual Convention and National symposium is jointly sponsored by Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Indian Society for Veterinary Surgery (Kerala Chapter), and Co-sponsored by Kerala State Council for Science ,Environment and Technology.

They are
a. Specialized area in the field of surgery and imaging may be addressed as an intensive course
b. In the present scenario, faculty with knowledge and skills in a specialized area must be recognized and allowed to develop and function in the same specialty
c. Centres with adequate expertise and infrastructure may be developed in a few locations in the country for various species. The cost involved in the infrastructure creation should be provided by the central govt. or central monitoring agency like VCI,ICAR, MHE, etc.
d. The degree of PhD may revised to be equalized with diplomate degree to create professional interest and improve professional efficiency
e. The faculty system in the department of surgery may be restructured from Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor 1 as AP( Small Animal Surgeon, Imaging, Large Animal Surgeon and Diplomate /or specialization qualified surgeon)
f. Accordingly the state govt./university should restructure the existing post available and provide for adequate faculty
g. Guidance for the master's students may be allotted in the respective specilities based on the students interest
i. Funding as stipends for faculty interested in specialization with further incentives of better job prospects and pay will encourage talented students in taking up specializations.
j. The “centre of excellence” currently functioning in the country may be upgraded in a few institutions. The functioning of the centre of excellence may be focussed towards skill based training and funded adequately.
k. VCI/state/ other suitable approved bodies may prepare a policy note on specialized training courses with related guidelines and rules for implementation.

The Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Mannuthy campus Thrissur is organizing the XXXVII Annual Congress of Indian Society for Veterinary Surgery (ISVS) and National Symposium on the theme “Need for Specialization and Super specialization in Veterinary Surgery and Imaging Techniques for Professional Efficiency Development” from 6th to 8th November 2013. Casino cultural auditorium, Thrissur and College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy are the venues for the symposium. About 400 delegates from various Veterinary Colleges in India and Scientists from National Institute and Professionals from Department of Animal Husbandry will take part in the three day programme.