Like many other minor species, sheep and goats often lack essential veterinary medicines as these are either not authorised, not marketed or have not yet been developed. A recent study by an FVE initiative (VetMed+ Coalition) focused on the lack of medicines and unmet needs for sheep and goats across Europe. A combination of online surveys, market analysis, and expert consultation led to the first-ever European Veterinary Medicines Gaps & Needs Compass, aiming to improve medicines availability.
Lacking: antimicrobials, NSAIDs, antiparasitics and vaccines
Across countries, shortages, lack of availability and unmet needs were most frequently reported in four critical categories: antimicrobials (particularly intramammary and systemic products); anti-inflammatories, analgesics and antipyretics; antiparasitics, including ectoparasiticides; and vaccines, especially for endemic and production-limiting diseases.
Fourteen ‘highest-priority unmet needs’ identified
The VetMed+ Compass approach furthermore identified 14 highest-priority unmet needs (i.e. no veterinary medicine authorised), including antibacterial teat injectors, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antiparasitics and vaccines. It also identified a number of medicines that lack availability (i.e. are authorised but not marketed):
- For sheep: albendazole, moxidectin, Pasteurellaceae spp. vaccine, multistrain bluetongue virus vaccine
- For goats: anthelmintics in general, Pasteurellaceae spp. vaccine
Harmonised market access pathways
Due to regulatory hurdles, many medicines essential for small ruminant practice are not authorised nationally, the study concludes, forcing vets to rely on the ‘cascade’ system to meet therapeutic needs. The authors recommend harmonised market access pathways and targeted development of key medicines, especially vaccines, NSAIDs and antibiotic teat injectors, to secure animal health, welfare and One Health objectives across Europe.
Read the full paper here. Next, the European Veterinary Medicines Gaps & Needs Compass will focus on ducks and geese.
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