Veterinarians in Alicante to Stage Another Walkout This Wednesday

On the heels of the walkout staged on February 11, veterinarians in the province of Alicante are called to join another protest against what they deem a 'restrictive' regulation impacting the profession.

The protests in Alicante will centre on Plaza de la Montañeta 6, in front of the Government Subdelegation headquarters, starting at 10 am. Professionals from over 330 veterinary clinics in the province are expected to attend. Simultaneously, these clinics will observe a temporary closure for two hours, until noon.

The action, promoted by the College of Veterinarians (Icoval) and nationally convened by the Veterinary Crisis Committee—which includes all veterinary associations, unions, and colleges—aims to involve pet owners, representatives of animal shelters, and livestock farmers.

The group denounces the 'difficulties in accessing and the unnecessary increase in the cost of veterinary medicines,' resulting from the current regulation (RD 666/2023), which has created an 'excessive bureaucratic burden' due to the mandatory antibiotic communication system called PRESVET or the imposition of a VAT on these services at the maximum rate of 21%.

The group demands a moratorium on the mandatory communication of prescribed antibiotics to animals (not only pets but also livestock) through such a platform; the relaxation of regulations to allow veterinarians to sell medicines directly to animals; and a reduction in the VAT applied to their services (currently the same as luxury items, at 21%).

Among the reasons cited, they recall that there is an alternative European system—now called the ESUAVet project, formerly ESVAC—that allows for the collection and evaluation of data on the sale and use of antimicrobials (antibiotics) indirectly, not through veterinarians but through drug distributors.

In all 52 provinces, gatherings are planned in front of the respective government delegations and subdelegations, coinciding with a closure of all veterinary offices, clinics, and hospitals during the specified time frame (from 10 am to 12 pm).