Every year, on the last Saturday of April, the world comes together to celebrate World Veterinary Day – an occasion to recognise the invaluable contributions of veterinarians to animal health, human well-being, and environmental sustainability. This year, it falls on 26 April, with the theme “Animal Health Takes a Team”, underscoring the collaborative nature of veterinary care in delivering high-quality veterinary services with far-reaching impact across sectors.
A timely and stark example of this collaboration is the ongoing battle against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), a zoonotic disease that threatens not only birds, but mammals and humans too. Its global resurgence has led to devastating consequences – over three million birds have been culled in the United Kingdom and 166 million in the United States (US), resulting in sharp increases in egg prices and severe financial losses. Beyond poultry, the outbreak has also affected dairy cattle in the US, further exacerbating food security concerns.
In Malaysia, such a crisis would be catastrophic for our poultry industry, valued at RM18.8 billion. Thankfully, our public and private veterinarians, alongside their teams, are working diligently to prevent this disease from occurring. Continued vigilance and preparedness are essential, and so is government support. Adequate funding for the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) is not optional, it is a necessity for effective disease prevention and early intervention.
Another pressing challenge in veterinary medicine is antimicrobial resistance. The misuse of antimicrobials in both human and animal health sectors can lead to drug-resistant infections, making treatment less effective and increasing public health risks. Veterinarians are working closely with producers and stakeholders to ensure antimicrobials are used responsibly and prudently at the farm level. This includes rigorous monitoring across the food chain – from farms to slaughter houses to processing centres – to maintain safe, residue-free food products.
The role of veterinarians also extends beyond farms and clinics into addressing global environmental concerns. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, global agrifood systems contributed approximately 16.2 billion tones of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in 2022, with crop and livestock production alone accounting for nearly half of this total. Veterinarians are uniquely positioned to help mitigate this impact through strategies that enhance animal productivity and health. This includes introducing feed additives, optimising nutrient management, and adopting improved manure handling methods such as anaerobic digestion, composting, separation and treatment, storage, and the use of fly larvae.
As Malaysia’s population grows more affluent, the demand for animal protein, particularly from the beef and dairy industries is increasing. Veterinarians in both the public and private sector are playing a crucial role in improving breeding, feeding, and husbandry practices to boost productivity and increase production. However, these efforts must be supported by strong and effective government policies to ensure long-term industry growth and sustainability.
Animal welfare remains as a highly emotive issue among people. From stray populations to ethical farming practices, veterinarians are expected to be the torchbearers of responsible animal care. Stray control remains a persistent challenge in urban areas. To address this, veterinarians should collaborate with other stakeholders to lead discussions on better regulatory framework and policy formulation, training programmes and community awareness campaigns, including promoting responsible pet ownership and the importance of neutering to control breeding.
The rise in veterinary clinics across Malaysia reflects increasing pet ownership and a shift in public attitudes towards animal care. However, this demand is not always matched by available resources or trained professionals. Many veterinarians face insufficient funding and workforce shortages, making it difficult to provide high service standards. Collaboration with financial institutions and government agencies is needed to facilitate investment in clinic infrastructure, equipment, and training programmes. This will help scale up services to meet rising expectations.
Despite their vital role, public-sector veterinarians in Malaysia remain underpaid, even after completing a rigorous five-year training programme similar to the qualification of medical doctors. Starting salaries are generally lower than those of their peers in countries such as Singapore, China, or South Korea. This pay disparity has led many to pursue private practice or shift to roles in the pharmaceutical and commercial sectors.
To retain and grow talent, Malaysia urgently needs a comprehensive salary review, clear career progression pathways and recognition systems based on merit – not limited by vacancy availability. A well-compensated and motivated veterinary workforce is essential to national animal health, food security, and public well-being.
Veterinarians are the unsung heroes working across sectors to safeguard animals, people, and the planet. This World Veterinary Day, let us honour their commitment—and more importantly, support them with the policies, recognition, and resources they truly deserve.
About the Author: Dato’ Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam, Professor at Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Malaysia. He previously served as the Director-General of the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia (2017-2020) and as the President of the Federation of Asian Veterinary Associations (2020-2022)