Thumbnail Image

A Public Choice Approach to the Economic Analysis of Animal Healthcare Systems

Year of publication 2004

Pages 38

Author Animal Production and Health Division

Category Other document

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Privatisation of animal healthcare systems in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, has had very limited success. Introduced with inadequate transition time and too few resources, many livestock owners either cannot afford or, just as likely, are unable to gain access to the services they need. Poor livestock owners in remote rural areas suffer the greatest disadvantage. This fact is undisputed but, since privatisation, the primary focus has been on analysing the performance of animal healthcare systems and few authors have studied the underlying economic theories that have driven privatisation policy nor examined in what ways these may have been detrimental. This working paper examines how the economic analysis of animal health services has evolved since the '90s. A comparison is made with economic theories underlying the provision of human healthcare services where the debate started much earlier (in the ‘60s). Special emphasis is put on how these perspective s have influenced privatisation policy and, in particular, based in general economic literature, how the way in which 'public goods' is defined affects their financing and provision. Following this perspective, the role that governments should expect to play in the animal healthcare sector post privatisation is also debated.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Technical report
    A Public Choice Approach to the Economic Analysis of Animal Healthcare Systems 2004
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This is the eleventh of a series of Working Papers prepared for the Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Initiative (PPLPI). The purpose of these papers is to explore issues related to livestock development in the context of poverty alleviation. Privatisation of animal healthcare systems in developing countries, particularly in sub- Saharan Africa, has had very limited success. Introduced with inadequate transition time and too few resources, many livestock owners either cannot afford or, just as likely, a re unable to gain access to the services they need. Poor livestock owners in remote rural areas suffer the greatest disadvantage. This fact is undisputed but, since privatisation, the primary focus has been on analysing the performance of animal healthcare systems and few authors have studied the underlying economic theories that have driven privatisation policy nor examined in what ways these may have been detrimental.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Guideline
    Guidelines for strengthening animal health services in developing countries 1991
    Also available in:
    The purpose of this publication is to assemble information from various sources to assist developing countries that, with the objectives of providing more effective animal disease control for improved food production and livestock development and protecting food safety for the consumer, are planning to upgrade their official health services in accordance with internationally accepted principles.A large volume and variety of technical publications on the many different aspects of animal health services under various social, economic and ecological conditions with many different animal disease situations are available. Following requests from many developing countries, a compilation of major experiences of animal health services has been prepared in the form of this publication. The document is based on previous Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) publications such as Standard of Veterinary Services (1974), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Office of Epizootics (OIE) publications, literature sources and technical reports dealing with this subject. Personal experiences of FAO experts and of the participants of the FAO Expert Consultation on Animal Health Services in Developing Countries, Rome, 15-19 October 1990, represent a very important contribution to this document. The Expert Consultation was attended by selected chief veterinary officers from all regions of developing countries. The final editing of the document was carried out by Drs A.K. Chatterjee, W.H.G. Rees and J. Thomson, former chief veterinary officers of India, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe respectively.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Policy brief
    Biosecurity in pig farms and the provision of animal health services in the United Republic of Tanzania: Should public-private partnerships be the way forward?
    A snapshot from public and private livestock field officers in Sumbawanga
    2024
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The Progressive Management Pathway for Terrestrial Animal Biosecurity (PMP-TAB) is a collaborative, stepwise approach to assessing and managing biological risks, to strengthen biosecurity in terrestrial animal production and associated value chains. Strengthening biosecurity will minimise health threats, including disease and antimicrobial resistance, improve production and enhance livelihoods through socioeconomic benefits. In Tanzania, the focus is on pig value chain actors, initially producers, to adopt minimum biosecurity practices at the farm level. This brief presents a snapshot of biosecurity in the Tanzania pig sector and a quick assessment of the capacity of public and private animal health services suppliers to interact and cooperate with livestock farmers and facilitate their adoption of good biosecurity practices and compliance with animal health legislation to ensure prevention and timely detection of animal disease and improve health outcomes. Existing laws, regulations and guidelines on biosecurity can make a difference only to the extent they reach and are applied by livestock farmers.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.