KEY POINTS:
Vets believe the Government's voluntary bonding scheme will help to alleviate the critical shortage of vets in rural areas.
The scheme involves partially writing off student loans for doctors, nurses, midwives, teachers and vets who stay in New Zealand when they graduate and places graduates in hard-to-staff areas. An official announcement on the scheme is due today.
The New Zealand Veterinary Association has been working with the Veterinary Council and Massey University to help officials develop the framework and eligibility criteria for the scheme.
NZVA president Richard Wild says the shortage of rural professionals including doctors and veterinarians is complex and he congratulates the government for acknowledging the issue and putting measures in place to address the problem.
"We recognise that this first year of the scheme will need to be closely monitored and reviewed to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the all stakeholders including government, livestock producers, veterinary practices and rural communities."
Wild says the issue of veterinarians re-entering production animal practice after returning to New Zealand from their OE, and the availability and regulation of veterinary technicians to work alongside vets need to be considered.
-NEWSTALK ZB
