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Valuation of Veterinary Profession at Field Level
By 
Dr. Prabir Datta 

After obtaining a BVSc&AH degree when a young veterinary doctor is posted in a 'Block' at the filed level, his services must have economic and social valuation. He should consider himself as custodian of Animal resources of the area where he has been posted. His first approach will be to collect all information as regards animal resources of the locality. Unlike number of cases treated daily by a medical doctor, the veterinary doctor should have liabilities on economic purposes of livestock also.

Animal husbandry extension services will be his pivotal duties. Utility of animal resources in agriculture, milk production along with other purposes will have to be reckoned. His primary duties will be to check morbidity and mortality of animal resources thereby economic role of the resources is not being hindered anyway.

His knowledge of parasitology, bacteriology, virology and immunology will be no way inferior to that of medical services. His practice of medicine will help to develop the pharmaceutical industry in the country. Therefore a Veterinary doctor is indispensable person for marketing medicine. His knowledge of surgery and gynecology will be used to give relief not only to the patient but his client also. It enhances the social value of the profession. His role of public health in the locality will be focused by his ability in controlling the zoonotic diseases. His participation in health awareness programme will be same that of medical counterpart. He should not limit himself for his service for not being recognized by the Government; in democratic system it follows the acceptability by people.

Colonial administrations will whither away soon by transparency bound situations with rapid development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Neither public sector nor private investment can be expected if there were no profitable return of investment in economic and social term. Social profitability also transformed in economic benefit ultimately. So thought process is vital today to grow the future of the profession. Reality has not only past and present but future also. 

Traditional accounting system will be replenished by welfare accounting system very soon. 

Authors Corresponding address: 

Dr. Prabir Datta   

(Retd. Deputy Director [Microbiology], Institute of Animal Health & Veterinary Biologicals, Belgachia, Kolkata-700037, India)
55 Kavi Nabin Sen Road, Kolkata -700028, India
Phone: 033-2591-9120, e-mail: prabir_datta@vsnl.net

The views expressed in this article are of the author(s), and any clarifications can be obtained from the author(s).