Abstract
Increasing fiscal constraints on the government, a lackadaisical performance by public sector animal health and breeding services and pressure from donor partners have prompted the governments of various developing countries to rethink the role of the public sector in the provision of veterinary services. Various countries have started to implement, or have already implemented, privatization of some veterinary services. The results are mixed. It is established that private provision alone is not optimal, and a blend of private and public sector veterinary services is required to utilize the virtues of both.
The privatization process has also begun in India. Certain state governments in India are pursuing a cost recovery approach and are encouraging private practitioners to cope with the financial constraints and to deliver broad and effective animal health and breeding services. This paper considers the global aspects of the privatization of veterinary services as well as the scenario in India, so as to gain an insight into the very complex and debatable issue of privatization of veterinary services.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Ahuja, V., George, P.S., Ray, S., McConnell, K.E., Kurup, M.P.G., Gandhi, V., Umali-Deininger, D. and de Haan, C., 2000. Agricultural Services and the Poor — Case of Livestock Health and Breeding Services in India, (Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, The World Bank, Washington, DC and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Bern)
Angniman, P.A., 1996. Privatization of Veterinary Services within the Context of Structural Adjustment in Mali, Cameroon and Chad, (FAO, Rome)
Anteneh, A., 1984. Financing Livestock Services in Some African Countries, (Pastoralis Development Network Paper 17; Overseas Development Institute, London)
Carney, D., 1998. Changing Public and Private Roles in Agricultural Service Provision, (Overseas Development Institute, London)
Cheneau, Y., 1985. The organisation of veterinary services in Africa. Revue Scientifique et Technique. Office International des Epizooties, 5, 107-114
Daniels, P. and Skerman, D., 1993. Funding research and development — a producer pays approach. In: L. Daniels, S. Holden, E. Lewin and S. Dadi (eds), Livestock Services for Small Holders, Proceedings of a seminar, 10–15 November, 1992 (Directorate General of Livestock Services, Jakarta)
de Haan, C. and Bekure, S., 1991. Animal Health Services in sub-Saharan Africa: Initial Experiences with Alternative Approaches, (Technical Paper 134; The World Bank, Washington DC)
de Haan, C. and Nissen, N., 1985. Animal Health Services in sub-Saharan Africa, (Technical Paper 44; The World Bank, Washington, DC)
Deliveri, 2000. Private veterinary services, 〈http://www.deliveri.org/deliveri/pilotapp/pvsintro.htm〉
FAO, 1997a. Principles for Rational Delivery of Public and Private Veterinary Services with Reference to Africa, FAO electronic conference on principles for rational delivery of public and private veterinary services, January–April 1997, (FAO, Rome)
FAO, 1997b. Principles for Rational Delivery of Public and Private Veterinary Services with Reference to Africa, Report of technical consultation on rational delivery of public and private veterinary services, 25–27 March 1997, (FAO, Rome)
Feldman, A.M., 1980. Welfare Economics and Social Choice Theory, (Kluwer Nijhoff Publishing, Boston, USA)
GOI (Government of India), 1996. National Livestock Policy: Report of the Steering Group, (Government of India, New Delhi)
Gros, J.S., 1994. Of cattle, farmers, veterinarians and the World Bank: The political economy of veterinary services privatization in Cameroun. Public Administration and Development, 14, 37-51
Holden, S., 1999. The economy of the delivery of veterinary services. Revue Scientifique et Technique. Office International des Epizooties, 18, 425-439
Holden, S. and Chema, S., 1996. Delivery of Animal Health Services: Kenya, (Interim report/discussion document; Livestock in Development, Crew Kerne, Somerset)
Kartamulia, L., Misniwaty, A. and Knipscheer, H., 1995. Development of a private health delivery network in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Agriculture and Human Values, 12, 39-44
Leonard, D., 1985. The Supply of Veterinary Services, (Discussion paper 191; Harvard Institute for International Development, Cambridge, MA, USA)
MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food), 1989. News Release, 4 September, (MAFF, London)
Mariam, T.H., 1993. Privatisation-alternative approach to develop and sustain veterinary services in Ethiopia, (MSc thesis, Reading University)
Mlangwa, J.E.D. and Kisauzi, D.N., 1994. Systems approach to animal health services delivery in sub-Saharan Africa — the case of privatization. Revue Scientifique et Technique. Office International des Epizooties, 13, Office International des Epizooties, Paris, 673-685
Mpelumbe, I.S., 1994. Perspectives on the privatization of the veterinary practice in the context of livestock production in Africa. Rapports de synthese sur les themes techniques presentes au comité international ou aux commissions regionales, 1993, 73-87
Muldar, J., 1993. Veterinary services in Africa. The Veterinary Quarterly, 15, 79-80
Nader, A., 1996. Profile of the veterinary services in the Republic of Argentina, 〈http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGA/AGAH/Vets-1-2/leng.htm〉
Odeyemi, I.A.O., 1994. A Review of the Policy to Privatize Animal Health Delivery Services in Nigeria, (Report submitted to Edinburgh University Development Fund, University of Edinburgh)
Prabaharan, R., 2000. Livestock-research investment crucial. The Hindu Survey of Indian Agriculture, (The Hindu, Chennai), 137-140
Savas, E.S., 1987. Privatization: The Key to Better Government, (Chatham House Publisher, Chatham, NJ, USA)
Schillhorn van Veen, T.W., 1999. Agricultural policy and sustainable livestock development. International Journal for Parasitology, 29, 7-15
Sen, A., 2001. Profile of private veterinary practitioners (PVPs): an exploratory study in West Bengal State, (MVSc thesis, Indian Veterinary Research Institute)
Sen, A. and Chander, M., 2001. Socio-personal characteristics of private veterinary practitioners (PVPs) in developing countries: a study in West Bengal State of India. Livestock Research for Rural Development, 13, 〈http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd13/6/arin136.htm〉
Singh, S., Birthal, P.S. and Rathore, B.S., 1998. Review of animal health services in India. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 68, 420-424
Sinha, Y., 2001. Budget 2001–02. The Economic Times, 1 March, 〈http://www.economictimes.com〉
Sparagano, O., 1999. Privatization of animal health services in the tropics. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 31, 191-192
Sulaiman, V.R. and Sadamate, V.V., 2000. Privatising Agricultural Extension in India, (Policy Paper 10; National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NCAP), New Delhi)
Thome, O., Mestre, C. and Correze, A., 1995. The privatization of veterinary services: who gains? Hommes et Animaux, 1995, 46-48
Trujillo, J.M.P., 1996. Veterinary Services in Mexico, 〈http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGA/AGAH/Vets-1-2/3eng.htm〉
Tulachan, P.M. and Neupane, A., 2000. Livestock in the Mixed Farming Systems of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas. Trends and Sustainability, (FAO, Rome and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu)
Umali, D.L. and Schwartz, L., 1994. Public and Private Agricultural Extension — Beyond Traditional Frontiers, (Discussion Paper 263; The World Bank, Washington DC)
Umali, D.L., Feder, G. and de Haan, C., 1994. Animal health services: finding the balance between public and private delivery. The World Bank Research Observer, 9, 71-96
Umrani, A.P., 2001. Privatizing veterinary services. The Dawn, 22 January 〈http://www.dawn.com/2001/01/22/ebr12.htm〉
UPDASP (Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agricultural Support Project), 1999. Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agricultural Support Project: At a glance, (Project Summary, UPDASP, Lucknow)
Wise, J.K. and Adams, C.L., 1999. Size and organization of private veterinary practices. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 215, 790-791
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sen, A., Chander, M. Privatization of Veterinary Services in Developing Countries: A Review. Tropical Animal Health and Production 35, 223–236 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023343429498
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023343429498