Veterinarians Demand Urgent Recruitment to Strengthen Livestock Healthcare in Andhra Pradesh
Veterinarians in Visakhapatnam have launched a protest demanding the immediate recruitment of qualified veterinary doctors in Andhra Pradesh. The group argues that a chronic staff shortage is compromising livestock healthcare, disease control, and public health, urging the government to fill 258 vacant assistant surgeon positions.
Highlights
- •Veterinarians held a protest in Visakhapatnam demanding permanent recruitment for vacant veterinary doctor positions.
- •Protesters argue that 6,137 existing para-medical staff cannot perform essential surgeries or diagnose complex livestock diseases.
- •Doctors warn that a shortage of professionals threatens public health regarding zoonotic diseases like bird flu and anthrax.
- •The group has called for the immediate filling of 258 veterinary assistant surgeon posts across Andhra Pradesh.
A group of dedicated veterinarians has launched a formal protest in Visakhapatnam, calling for the immediate recruitment of qualified veterinary doctors across Andhra Pradesh. Despite the state government’s efforts to support livestock healthcare through the deployment of 6,137 para-medical staff in Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), the protesting doctors argue that a critical shortage of licensed professionals is severely hindering essential medical services for livestock.
The demonstration, which took place on Monday in front of the district animal husbandry office, saw doctors submit formal representations to both the district animal husbandry officer and the district collector. The protest was spearheaded by a team of veterinary doctors, including B. Divya, L. Narayana Rao, Ramya, Roopa Sudha, and Shiva. Their primary demand is to fill vacant positions to adequately strengthen animal healthcare infrastructure across the state.
Challenges in Livestock Healthcare and Professional Roles
During the sit-in, the veterinarians emphasized that there has been no permanent recruitment of qualified veterinary doctors since 2018. While acknowledging the supportive role played by para-medical personnel, the doctors clarified that these staff members lack the legal authority to perform surgeries, diagnose complex conditions, conduct post-mortems, or prescribe necessary medications. Dr. B. Divya highlighted that licensed veterinarians are the only professionals legally empowered to manage disease control, conduct surgical procedures, and accurately diagnose health issues that affect both animals and human populations.
The doctors pointed out that the absence of sufficient qualified staff compromises the management of serious zoonotic diseases, such as brucellosis, anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease, and bird flu. These illnesses pose significant public health risks, making the presence of trained doctors vital for overseeing vaccination programs and animal birth control initiatives. Furthermore, the doctors stressed that the ongoing shortage is negatively impacting the state's dairy sector, general livestock health, and the employment prospects for recent graduates in the field.
Call for Recruitment and Future Protests
The representatives urged the government to fulfill its proposal to hire 258 veterinary assistant surgeons to ensure that the department is adequately staffed. Additionally, they noted that they are keeping a close watch on ongoing investigations into the appointments of certain animal husbandry assistants. L. Narayana Rao reiterated that para-medical staff cannot serve as an effective substitute for trained veterinarians, maintaining that permanent recruitment is the only viable solution to restore full functionality to the department. The medical professionals have stated their intent to continue district-level demonstrations, warning that they may initiate an indefinite statewide agitation if their demands remain unaddressed by authorities.
