Centre aims to strengthen veterinary services through PPPs

Union Animal Husbandry and Dairying Ministry logo. Photo: x/@Dept_of_AHD

The Centre has decided to bring public-private partnerships (PPP) in areas such as vaccine platforms, veterinary workforce development, institutional infrastructure and the creation of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-free zones. After a three-day workshop on PPPs for the performance of veterinary services held here last week in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Union Animal Husbandry and Dairying Ministry said that such a step will strengthen veterinary services in the country.

The workshop, attended by policymakers and experts, discussed ways to address critical gaps in veterinary services in the country through structured PPP engagement. The Ministry said the emphasis during this process will be on expanding veterinary infrastructure, including establishment of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited veterinary laboratories at the district level.

The Ministry also aims to strengthen disease control programmes through enhanced surveillance and FMD-free zone development. Building veterinary workforce capacity through structured training and knowledge-sharing platforms, strengthening self-reliance in veterinary vaccine production by developing a robust vaccine value chain and defining a comprehensive PPP policy framework to integrate private sector expertise in veterinary research, diagnostics, and extension services were the other key discussion points in the workshop.

The Ministry’s Secretary Alka Upadhyaya said there is a need to establish veterinary laboratories with NABL accreditation, and added that private sector collaboration is essential for disease surveillance, workforce capacity, and vaccine production. “This workshop has created a platform for structured PPP engagement in veterinary services. The discussions will contribute to a roadmap that enhances national disease control programmes, expands veterinary infrastructure, and ensures a sustainable ecosystem for animal health security,” she said.