Market structure and the demand for veterinary services in India

Abstract

Public provision of subsidized or free animal health services has been a major component of livestock development strategy in India. Overtime, the governments (both state and central) have built-up vast networks of physical and human infrastructure to provide these services to millions of farmers across the country. The number of state-run veterinary institutions had grown from about 2,000 in 1951 to over 50,000 at the end 1997-98. These institutions employed some 100,000 professionals and para-professionals. But, the quality of service provided by these institutions continues to be poor. Very few of these are equipped with clinical diagnosis facilities. Even those that have some facilities are very old. Lack of facilities for clinical diagnosis is at least in part responsible for indiscriminate use of antibiotics and anti-infectives, leading to high costs of drugs and medicines, and presenting a threat to human health because of the risk of inducing drug resistance.