Veterinary medicine sector sees growth and calls for professional recognition

The veterinary medicine sector is experiencing significant growth and evolving importance within the global healthcare and animal production ecosystems. Driven by rising pet ownership and a focus on food security, the global veterinary vaccines market is projected to grow from USD 13.02 billion in 2026 to USD 18.46 billion by 2031.

In Portugal, there is a growing call to officially recognize veterinarians as healthcare professionals. Paulo Teixeira, president of the Northern Regional Council of the Ordem dos Médicos Veterinários (OMV), emphasizes the need to implement the ‘One Health’ concept. He notes that animal health services often receive less than 0.6% of global health investment, leading to challenges in sanitary prevention, epidemiological surveillance, and crisis response. Strengthening institutions like the DGAV and official laboratories is seen as essential for managing emerging diseases and antimicrobial resistance.