Features disease status. This vital work underpins the OIE’s core role as a standard setting body. iii. Strengthening the veterinary voice in global discussions The global animal health policy environment is becoming increasingly complex and problems are presenting unprecedented challenges where global solutions must encompass the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders. The OIE is the international organisation for government veterinary services and I believe we have a lot to contribute to key global issues such as AMR and food security. Veterinary services must be a strong, influential and effective contributor to One Health discussions, especially AMR, so that our concerns are central to the design and direction of global actions. For example, other international bodies are working to remove veterinary and animal agriculture access to antibiotics. I believe it is essential that we maintain access to antibiotics provided they are used responsibly. In this area Australia has a lot of valuable experience to share, and as President, I will be looking to work closely with the Director General to encourage a proactive, meaningful presence on these important issues. What are your thoughts on the collective international animal health system? The international animal health system relies on the veterinary services of each individual government, and some of these are weak and need support. I spoke to the CVO of one African country and asked why they were not undertaking surveillance and his reply was that if they leave the urban areas they are at risk of being shot! So, there are some very serious challenges that we do not experience in Australia. It is important that the international standards developed by the OIE do not act perversely and discourage true reporting of a country’s animal health status. Countries that undertake surveillance and report disease in their animal populations should not be penalised for behaving ethically. There is still some work to be done in this regard. The OIE also has a role in measuring the performance of veterinary services to identify weaknesses or non-compliances in national veterinary services. This information then allows donors to support capacity building to strengthen veterinary services and animal health surveillance. This is particularly important for our region where we rely on the veterinary services of our northern neighbours to detect and report disease as part of our early warning and preparedness. “When veterinarians are engaged in livestock health in developing countries, they support better health outcomes for humans, they support gender equity and empower women...” I want to model good behaviour internationally in this regard. Australia has strong veterinary services; we conduct surveillance and accurately report our disease and health status, and we rely on this status to access export markets. Our animal health status is also the basis for our biosecurity system. Both trade and biosecurity rely on the international standards developed by the OIE. AT A GLANCE OIE established Australia joined the OIE 1924 1925 182 Member countries of the OIE THE LINK AUT/WIN 18 9
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