At NIDO, we are committed to the health and welfare of exotic animals, and part of that commitment includes adapting to legal regulations that promote the responsible use of medicines. Recently, a new regulation, Royal Decree 666/2023, has come into force. This regulates how antibiotics are prescribed, administered and managed in veterinary practice. What does this mean for you and your pet? We explain it to you.
Why is this regulation needed?
Irresponsible use of antibiotics can lead to antimicrobial resistance, a global problem affecting both animals and humans. The new regulation aims to ensure that antibiotics are used only when absolutely necessary and in the safest and most controlled way possible.
Major changes in the management of antibiotics in animals
This new regulation on antibiotics in animals, involves a change in several aspects. The most important of these are:
Restricted prescription
Antibiotics can now only be prescribed when there is a clear suspicion of bacterial infection. This means that a more rigorous diagnosis must be made before prescribing any treatment.
Justification with diagnostic tests
It is mandatory to support the need for antibiotics with cultures and antibiograms. These tests help us to identify the causative bacteria and the most appropriate antibiotic to treat it.
Priority use of veterinary medicinal products
If there is a specific antibiotic for veterinary use that is equivalent to one for human use, we are obliged to use the one for veterinary use.
Delivery and management of prescriptions
- Prescriptions must be collected in person and can no longer be sent by e-mail.
- We cannot provide antibiotics directly at the clinic, only the minimum amount necessary until the treatment is available from the pharmacy.
- A pre-visit to the animal is compulsory prior to the release of any medicinal product.
- In the case of ferrets, microchipping is mandatory in order to issue a prescription.
In addition, all antibiotic prescriptions must be managed and reported through PRESVET.
What is PRESVET?
PRESVET is the central computer system for the control of veterinary antibiotic prescriptions developed by the MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food). This tool makes it possible to register, manage and supervise all veterinary prescriptions that include antibiotics, with the aim of guaranteeing a responsible and controlled use of these medicines.
Basically, PRESVET acts as a traceability system for veterinary prescriptions, ensuring compliance with current regulations and facilitating access to information for both veterinarians and competent authorities.
Advantages and disadvantages of the PRESVET regulation
The implementation of the new regulations and the PRESVET system brings with it some advantages and disadvantages. Regarding the advantages:
- Greater transparency in the use of prescription medicines, as it implies an increase in administrative tasks for veterinarians.
- Cost increase by requiring diagnostic tests, which can make treatment more expensive.
- Discomfort with requirements, such as the mandatory visit to the animal and the impossibility to send prescriptions by e-mail.
We know that these changes may cause inconvenience. These regulations are alien to our veterinary clinic and, although we do not fully agree with some of their requirements, we are doing our best to adapt in order to continue caring for the health of your pets with the same dedication as always.