Veterinary Act (Code of Conduct for Veterinary Paraprofessionals and Paraprofessional Assistants) Regulations, 2005 (G.N. No. 386 of 2005)

1 GOVERNMENT NOTICE NO 386 published on 25/11/2005 THE VETERINARY ACT, 2003 (No 16 of 2003) REGULATIONS Made under Section 42 THE VETERINARY ACT (CODE OF CONDUCT FOR VETERINARY PARAPROFESSIONALS AND PARAPROFESSIONAL ASSISTANTS) REGULATIONS, 2005 PART I PRELIMINARY Citation 1. These regulations may be cited as the Veterinary Act (Code of Conduct for Veterinary Paraprofessionals and Paraprofessional Assistants) Regulations, 2005. Application 2. These regulations shall apply to Paraprofessional and Paraprofessional Assistants Interpretation 3. In these regulations unless the context requires: “act” means the veterinary act, 2003; “code” means a set of moral principles accepted by a society or the council and veterinary; “code of practice” means a set of professional standards agreed upon by members of a particular profession; “conduct” means behave or conduct oneself honourable and with dignity; “ethics” means that branch of philosophy, which is concerned with human character and conduct; PART II CODE OF CONDUCT Practice ethics and conduct 4. (1) Every enrolled Paraprofessional and enlisted Paraprofessional Assistant shall have the obligation to conduct affairs of the profession with the highest degree of honest, skill and integrity and shall be required to observe the code of conduct and ethics under these regulations. (2) Violation of any of the provisions in these regulations shall constitute professional misconduct or misbehaviour and may entail disciplinary action. Uphold integrity of the veterinary 5. (1) Any Veterinary paraprofessional/paraprofessional Assistant is required to act at all times in a manner so that he maintains and promote the prestige, honour, dignity and 2 profession interest of the profession; (2) Any Veterinary paraprofessional or paraprofessional assistant is morally obliged to serve the public to the best of his ability by maintaining, at all times, the highest standard of animal health care and professional conduct; (3) Any Veterinary paraprofessional/paraprofessional Assistant shall collaborate with members of the veterinary profession and members of other professions in a responsible and professional manner in order to ensure quality health care services for all animals; (4) Any Veterinary paraprofessional or paraprofessional assistant shall not permit himself to be exploited in a manner, which may be detrimental to an animal, the public or the profession; (5) Any Veterinary paraprofessional or paraprofessional assistant shall assume accountability for individual professional actions and judgment; (6) Any Veterinary paraprofessional or paraprofessional assistant shall safeguard the public and himself against individuals deficient in moral character, professional competence or ethics; (7) Any Veterinary paraprofessional or paraprofessional assistant shall remain competent in animal health care through commitment to life-long learning. Obligation to practice 6. (1) Any Veterinary Paraprofessional/Paraprofessional Assistant shall execute the instructions or tasks of a registered veterinarian discerningly and faithfully and shall refuse to take part in any unethical behavior of procedure; statutes and statutory provisions; (2) Any Veterinary Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant shall keep himself informed of all the law which affect him in the practicing of the profession; (3) Any Veterinary Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant shall be familiar with the ethical rules applicable to animal health paraprofessional or paraprofessional Assistant and shall promote these rules at all times; (4) Any Veterinary Paraprofessional/Paraprofessional Assistant shall regard any information acquired during the course of his employment as strictly confidential and shall refrain from divulging unlawful or malicious information to any person except his employer and or the animal owner; (5) Any Veterinary Paraprofessional/Paraprofessional Assistant shall refrain from expressing any criticism in public through which the reputation, status or practice of a colleagues in the profession is or could be undermined or injured, or through which a reflection is or could be cast on the professionalism skill, methods of conduct of such colleagues; (6) Any Veterinary Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant shall at all times, keep detailed and accurate records of all information and procedures performed by him for at least ten years; (7) Veterinary Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant shall be familiar with the methods employed by a person practicing as paraprofessionals or paraprofessional 3 Assistant and must comply with the applicable minimum practice standards and others standards as determined by the Council from time to time. PART III VETERINARY MEDICAL RECORDS AND DISEASE CONTROL Obligation to disease prevention and control 7. The objectives of disease prevention and control shall be: (a) to implement vaccination programmes in livestock, in order to prevent, and or control animal diseases and to strive towards establishing a disease free animal populations; (b) to implement parasite control programmes in livestock, in order to prevent, and or control animal parasites and to strive towards establishing a parasite free animal population; (c) to promote public health by assisting with the control of zoonotic diseases and informing the public about the occurrence of the diseases; (d) to perform delegated duties pertaining to regulated animal diseases, listed under the relevant animal disease control legislation including the various eradication schemes. Obligation to disease notification and report 8. (1) Any Veterinary Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant under indirect supervision by a registered veterinarian in clinical veterinary practice shall report on the occurrence of a notifiable diseases; (2) Any Veterinary Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant shall compile and submit a monthly report of all vaccinations done and other diseases attended to the registered veterinarian in charge of the veterinary practice facility. Obligation to diagnosis and research of diseases 9. Any Veterinary Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant shall have an obligation to: (a) collect of data and the compiling of reports whilst assisting with epidemiological and research projects; (b) collect specimens to assist in the investigation of reproductive and fertility problems in livestock; (c) collect samples, including blood smears, brain smears, impression smears, skin scrapings, wool scrapings, faecal samples but excluding the collection of samples by biopsy; (d) examine and analyze including blood smears, skin scrapings, and wool scrapings, urine analysis and faecal samples and elementary clinical chemistry; (e) carry out basic post mortem examinations and the collection and submission of samples for microbiological, toxicological, histo-pathological and serological investigation. Veterinary medical records 10. (1) A Paraprofessional or paraprofessional Assistant shall maintain a written or printed patient record cards or books; (2) A Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant shall compile and submit a monthly report of all vaccinations and other diseases attended to the registered veterinarian whom the paraprofessional or paraprofessional assistant is under supervision. PART1V VETERINARY EXTENSION SERVICES Obligation to meat inspection 11. (1) Any Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant shall carry out meat inspections and other duties under the relevant abattoir legislation; 4 (2) Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant shall have an obligation to supervise the disposal of a carcasses found unfit for human consumption. Animal breeding 12. Paraprofessional or Paraprofessional Assistant may perform artificial insemination provided that the Paraprofessional or paraprofessional Assistant has undertaken an insemination practical course. PART V SUPERVISORY OBLIGATION Supervision of paraprofessional assistants 13. An enrolled paraprofessional will have the obligation to supervise assistants in the absence of and or after receiving communication from the registered veterinarian at different levels. Supervision of veterinary students at practice 14. When veterinary students are engaged in veterinary practical work, an enrolled paraprofessional must explain to the would be paraprofessional or paraprofessional assistant on standard behaviour, including legal obligations and what is expected of them in dealing with patients and clients. PART V1 CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION Professional education 15-(1) Any Veterinarian shall continue to advance his education in order to constitute a disservice to clients and to animals; (2) Any Paraprofessional and paraprofessional assistant shall make use of the various methods of continuing professional education that are available to him which includes upgrade courses, organized short courses, appropriate conferences or workshops and correspondence courses. PART V11 SERVICE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS Contracts agreement 16. When a paraprofessional or paraprofessional assistant is in clinical practice for any period under the supervision of a registered veterinarian, the relationship shall be clearly defined in an agreed, fair and correctly prepared contract which makes all accountability clear. Dar es Salaam, EDWARD LOWASSA, (MP), 1st November, 2005 Ministry of Water and Livestock Development