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Pet peeve |
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In this fast advancing global world of ours, the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery in Malaysia seems to be at an all-time low with the sprouting of so-called veterinary clinics owned by pet shops, lay people or by veterinary assistants or veterinary kennel hands who have no knowledge of the high level of professionalism needed to run a veterinary practice. These people either act as veterinarians themselves or employ veterinarians whose annual practicing licenses are then hung up in the clinic as showpieces. As a small animal practitioner myself, I am aware that the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1974 states clearly that veterinarians can only work for veterinarians in the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery. During the Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Small Animal |
Veterinary Association, it was brought to our notice that the committee had forwarded many complaints to the Malaysian Veterinary Council regarding bogus veterinarians. I notice that no action has been taken because more of these dubious practices have sprung up in Port Dickson, Nilai, Bangi, Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur, to name a few. The saddest part is when veterinary assistants in government veterinary clinics, while carrying out their official duties under the supervision of the veterinarian in charge, are working like veterinarians themselves diagnosing cases, giving injections, prescribing medication and performing surgeries. They even take pride in being called “doctors” by the non-discerning public. Why has the Department of Veterinary Services allowed this to go on in the public and private sectors? |
There are enough young graduates from Universiti Putra Malaysia to fill the vacancies. If they can gain employment in the government sector, they can replace the veterinary assistants. If we, as veterinarians, do not take pride in our profession and uphold our dignity and integrity, who will do it for us? I hope the chairman of the Malaysian Veterinary Council will look into this matter to weed out the bad hats and not just act against the veterinarians who work for these people. When the veterinarian is reprimanded by the council and leaves the job, the layman will just go to another veterinarian because there seems to be so many of them around. - Concerned Veterinarian
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