The Veterinary Charter register is being overhauled. It must be easier to check whether a veterinarian or veterinary assistant is registered therein. Now finding a veterinary specialist in the register is an almost impossible task. It is also checked again whether the disciplinary law still works in this way. That says outgoing State Secretary Jean Rummenie van Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).
The Veterinary Charter register is being overhauled. It must be easier to check whether a veterinarian or veterinary assistant is registered therein. Now finding a veterinary specialist in the register is an almost impossible task. It is also checked again whether the disciplinary law still works in this way. That says outgoing State Secretary Jean Rummenie van Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).
Earlier today, research by Omroep Brabant and the NOS showed that at least four Brabant veterinarians and twelve paraveterinary veterinarian assistants are not in the Veterinary Chart Register. Before the research, the websites of two large chains were first looked at and the names of the veterinarians were looked up in the register.
Difficulty
It is difficult to find whether a veterinarian is in the register. You can search for initials, last name and registration number. But the search for name is not always reliable. Omroep Brabant and the NOS could not initially find hundreds of veterinary experts in the register, but after research by the register they turned out to be in it. For example, they presented themselves with a different name on the website, but were now married or had spelled their name incorrectly.
There was also no registration number of a veterinary specialist on the websites. This registration number is public for doctors for people, but veterinarians are not obliged to share this number if someone asks. This makes it more difficult for outsiders to check whether the vet or a paraveterinary veterinarian’s assistant has the correct registration.
Improve search
Work is being done on improvements in the Veterinary Characterist register, says outgoing State Secretary Jean Rummenie of LVVN. “With the new construction of the Veterinary Charter Register last year and its implementation this year, it has been found that the search functionality can be improved.”
This makes it “easier for animal owners to find their veterinarian or paraveterinary in the register. This is currently being worked on. It is expected that the search functionality will be improved after the summer,” said the State Secretary.
Regenerate
Behind the scenes, professional associations talk to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) about reforms of the register. For example, veterinarians now only have to register once, unlike doctors and nurses who have to do this every five years and thereby show that they have trained themselves.
According to Rummenie, the consultations also look at the possibilities for this type of re -registration and after how many years that should be. “The profession of veterinarian is pre -eminently a profession where people continue to learn a lifetime. As a healthcare professional, they must follow veterinary technical developments, weigh new insights and continue to become more proficient,” said the State Secretary.
Disciplinary law is being reviewed
The ministry also looks at the disciplinary system again. This was set in 1993 to guarantee the quality of animal care and to promote good professional practice. Disciplinary law applies to veterinarians, paraveterinary veterinary assistants and others who perform veterinary activities professionally.
“We are evaluating whether the disciplinary law system in veterinary health care still achieves the intended goal. This evaluation is currently being prepared and will be started this year,” says Rummenie. It is not yet known when the results of the research are known.
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