title: Perceived constraints to private veterinary practice in India.
abstract: We used an exploratory study in two districts of West Bengal State, India to find out the constraints of private veterinary practice. Privatization of veterinary services is being seen as an alternative to government-sponsored veterinary services to livestock. In December 2000 to February 2001, 50 private veterinary practitioners were interviewed from the districts. Their opinion was that weak regulations about competition from illegal practitioners and the use of veterinary drugs, competition by animal-health technicians (who are likely to charge less than veterinarians), absence of efficient diagnostic-laboratory support, and lack of commercial livestock farming were the main constraints faced.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Management in Agriculture, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad 380015, Gujarat, India. arindamsen@msn.com
authors.forename: Arindam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011331:Private Practice; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D018634:Veterinarians; D014730:Veterinary Medicine