Distribution of pet medicines sparks debate

CYPRUS Turkish Pharmacists’ Union head Süay Sevinç called this week for pet medicines to be dispensed by chemists rather than vets.

Her statement answered a live TV pronouncement just days earlier by the head of the Cyprus Turkish Veterinarians’ Union, Umut Sayılı, urging that veterinary medicines should come under the control of the state Veterinary Department.

The vets’ union was accepted as a member of the World Veterinary Association last November.

Veterinary medicines are currently under the control of the Health Ministry’s Medicines and Chemists Department, which oversees the importation and storage of all pharmaceuticals.

Gazimağusa chemist Mrs Sevinç said the control of medicines was vital for public health and vets, like doctors, should give prescriptions to be filled at a pharmacy.

She added that pharmacists were more than qualified to oversee the sale and use of veterinary medicines in the same way that they dispensed to people.

The Veterinary Department, under the remit of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Ministry, continues to implement an ongoing fivemillion-euro project with the EU to strengthen their organisation and monitor livestock countrywide by taking blood samples to check for disease.

Department head Hüseyin Ataben could not be reached for comment, but Agriculture and Natural Resources Ministry undersecretary Emirali Deveci said: “I cannot comment on the situation but it will not be solved by two heads arguing — only in the Parliament. As the law stands, the Health Ministry oversees all medicines.”

Mr Sayılı said: “We would prefer a system where we dispense medicines ourselves and keep a book.

“We tried to change the law but were not successful. Chemists will take all the profit from sales, impoverishing independent vets and favouring larger veterinary institutions.

“As things stand, vets are getting medicines from all over the place and there is not enough control.

“If a farmer gets antibiotics from the chemist for his livestock but then decides to slaughter them . . . without veterinary supervision to check that the required time has passed for antibiotic elimination, the public will be consuming those medicines in the meat.

“We do not agree that chemists should have a monopoly on veterinary medicines.”