On Wednesday, March 5, a demonstration will take place in front of the Government Delegation, organised by the Veterinary Profession School of Las Palmas, to express their opposition to the new legislation that compels the sector to adopt protocols which delay treatments, escalate bureaucracy, and in certain instances, restrict the dispensing of certain antibiotics, thereby jeopardising the health of animals.
The protest will not only see attendance from veterinary professionals but also from students of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, animal protectors, owners, workers, and entrepreneurs, among various other groups. Many of those demonstrating will be joined by their pets, as this regulation primarily impacts companion animals.
This mobilization aims to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with Royal Decree 666/2023, which came into effect in January and governs the use of medications for pets. This marks the first occasion where the sector has collectively mobilised to advocate for the recognition of veterinary care as an essential profession for global health.
The demonstration in the Gran Canaria capital will occur on Wednesday, March 5 at six in the evening, commencing from Plaza de la Feria following a gathering at the entrance of the Government Delegation. Concurrently, there will be assemblies in Arrecife (Lanzarote) outside the Government Delegation on Blas Cabrera Felipe Street, 6, and in Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura), also in front of the Government Delegation, on May 1.
The Demonstration
The College of the Veterinary Profession of Las Palmas had already shut its headquarters on February 11 in protest against the new measures requiring the use of the Presvet tool to monitor and control the prescriptions of antibiotics prescribed to animals. The wider veterinary community across the Canary Islands supported this protest.
Since January 2, the integration of notification for prescribed or administered antibiotics to pets via the Presvet system has led to numerous challenges for clinical veterinarians, hindering their ability to effectively carry out their professional duties while compromising the quality of care for patients.
The college aims to convey to the authorities and the competent public the discontent present amongst its membership, highlighting the obstacles faced in selecting the most suitable antibiotic (cascade system) and the apprehension surrounding potential large fines for non-compliance.
Moreover, the college remains concerned about the uncertainty afflicting pet owners and guardians, given the difficulties in sourcing prescribed antibiotics at pharmacies. “This demonstrates that, at least in this phase, the system is not functioning effectively, which jeopardises the health guarantees of our patients,” the spokesperson added.
Organisations joining the call to action, alongside the Las Palmas Veterinary Profession College, include Avetprucan, the Union consent Las Palmas, the employer group AEMVELPA, and the Veterinarians’ College of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The message of the veterinarians at the demonstration reads, ‘our professionalism should not be questioned. Our clinical judgement is not criminalised.’
The message from the supporting groups (students, protectors, owners) states, ‘In support of our veterinarians. And for the health of our animals’. According to data from Zoocan, there are in the Canary Islands 602,963 dogs and 122,456 cats, serving 417,655 owners, with 1,775 registered veterinarians (1,135 from Las Palmas and 640 from Tenerife), 374 veterinary centres (204 from Las Palmas and 170 from Tenerife), and approximately 750 clinicians (400 from Las Palmas and 350 from Tenerife).
