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WSAVA launches essential medicines list audit
“The WSAVA List of Essential Medicines for Cats and Dogs has proved an important step forward in our efforts to improve global drug availability" - Dr Paulo Steagall.
The review comes ahead of a revised version later this year. 

Vets and industry stakeholders are being invited to submit their comments on the current edition of the WSAVA List of Essential Medicines for Cats and Dogs

The open audit commences Monday, 9 January prior to an expected revised version of the list later this year.

Launched in 2020, the document was developed by the WSAVA's Therapeutics Guidelines Group to address the global challenges faced by companion animal vets in accessing vital veterinary medicines.

The topic was addressed during the recent ‘Shaping the Future’ session at WSAVA World Congress 2022 in Lima, Peru. A stakeholder meeting was also held during the Congress to discuss the issue in more detail and to explore potential solutions. 

Dr Paulo Steagall, co-chair of the Therapeutics Guidelines Group, said: “The WSAVA List of Essential Medicines for Cats and Dogs has proved an important step forward in our efforts to improve global drug availability. We know that it is already supporting regulatory decision-making around licensing, registration and approval, as well as assisting with pharmacovigilance. 

“As it was launched in 2020, it is now time for its three-yearly review and, for this, we are calling on the global veterinary community to help us so that we can ensure that the document fulfils its purpose of becoming a key element of the regulatory framework and a useful tool to ensure access to veterinary medicines globally. 

“We are keen to hear from veterinarians, from industry and from all other stakeholders with their suggestions and comments as to what the core and complementary medicines for treating the most frequent and important diseases in small animal companion medicine should be. This will ensure that the 2023 edition of the WSAVA Essential Medicines List for Cats and Dogs is fully up-to-date when we release it later in the year.” 

The document is available for free on the WSAVA website, including core and complementary essential medicines, listed alphabetically, either by drug category or organ system/specialty. 

Submissions should be sent to the WSAVA Therapeutics Guidelines Group at wsavatgg@gmail.com by 31 March 2023. 

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.