The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) conducted a number of inspections of vet practice premises last year, with some disciplinary matters considered for sanction including the prescribing of animal remedies to animals not under the care of the vet in question.
In a statement this morning (Monday, March 1), the council underlined that veterinary practitioners can only prescribe and dispense prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics, to animals that are under their care.
The VCI provided a definition for this, explaining: “An animal is considered to be under the care of a vet when specific requirements are satisfied, to ensure that the prescribing vet has sufficient knowledge of the animal and their environment to ensure safe and informed prescribing, in the interests of animal welfare and public health.
In 2020, the VCI inspected 86 veterinary practice premises in association with the VCI Certificate of Suitability, a certificate required to be held by each veterinary practice in Ireland.
“In 2020, the Veterinary Council, following disciplinary action relating to veterinary medicines matters, imposed a sanction of a period of suspension from practise on four veterinary practitioners, which were then confirmed by the High Court,” the VCI added.
Some disciplinary matters considered for sanction by the Veterinary Council in 2020 included the prescribing of animal remedies to animals which were not under the care of the vet.