1. Introduction to the concept of the PVS Critical Competencies
The OIE PVS Tool and
Introduction to the concept of the PVS Critical Competencies
Training Seminar: “The OIE PVS Tool”
16 – 20 April 2012
Beijing, China
Dr. François Caya
Head of the OIE Regional Activities Department 1

2. Veterinary Services’ Strategic Priorities
The OIE PVS Pathway
« Treatment »
Capacity Building,
Specific Activities,
Projects and Programs 
PVS
Gap Analysis
Evaluation
PVS Pathway
Follow-Up
Missions
Veterinary
Legislation
Public / Private
Partnerships
Education
Laboratories
« Diagnosis »
« Prescription »
including
Veterinary Services’ Strategic Priorities
The OIE collaborates with governments,
donors and other stakeholders
2/Item8

3. The OIE PVS Tool
The OIE PVS Tool is the basis for evaluating performance of Veterinary Services against the international standards published in the Terrestrial Code
3/Item8

4. Objective of the PVS Tool
The OIE PVS Tool is designed to:
assist VS to establish their current level of performance
identify gaps and weaknesses in their ability to comply with OIE international standards
form a shared vision with stakeholders (including the private sector)
establish priorities and carry out strategic initiatives.
4/Item8

5. Development of the PVS Tool
Basis: Terrestrial Code
OIE ad hoc Group on the Evaluation of Veterinary Services
Experienced PVS experts;
Developed critical competencies, indicators and sources of verification;
Based on Code provisions;
Report to the Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (“Code Commission”).
Review and update the tool if necessary
5/Item8

6. The PVS Tool is based on the Code
Terrestrial Animal Health Code
SECTION 3. Quality of Veterinary Services
Provides the Quality Standards for Veterinary Services and the Standards to evaluate them.
All other chapters in the Code, Volumes I and II
Provide the standards for animal health and welfare measures and other standards and recommendations referred in the PVS Tool
6/Item8 6

7. Use of the PVS Tool Self-evaluation Bilateral negotiations
To assess a country’s own Veterinary Service performance;
Performed by internal experts with possible input by OIE experts.
Bilateral negotiations
An evaluation of the exporting country’s Veterinary Service to assist negotiations between trading countries;
Undertaken by mutual agreement.
Independent evaluation
Provides a strong legitimization of a request for national and/or international financing;
Performed using OIE experts.
7/Item8 7

8. OIE PVS Tool: Harmonised approach
OIE PVS Tool with Provisional Indicators (now 2010 (5th) Edition)
Manual of the Assessor – Volume 1: Guidelines for conducting an OIE PVS Evaluation;
Manual of the Assessor – Volume 2: Guidelines for writing an OIE PVS Evaluation Report
All above documents are given to OIE PVS Assessors
OIE-PVS Tool (public document)
8/Item8

9. What is evaluated using the PVS Tool ?
9/Item8

10. Definitions in the PVS Tool
Are those found in the Terrestrial Code
Veterinary Services:
means the governmental and non-governmental organisations that implement animal health and welfare measures and other standards and recommendations in the Terrestrial Code and the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code in the territory.
The Veterinary Services are under the overall control and direction of the Veterinary Authority.
Private sector organisations, veterinarians, veterinary paraprofessionals or aquatic animal health professionals are normally accredited or approved by the Veterinary Authority to deliver the delegated functions.
Countries are encouraged to use OIE-PVS tool in continuously monitoring the performance and improvement on veterinary services in partnership with private stakeholders.
10/Item8

11. Cross-cutting competencies: Laboratories, education, etc.
« the Veterinary domain »
Cross-cutting competencies: Laboratories, education, etc.
Human food
Non-food products
Border inspection posts
Medicinal products
Animal feed
Genetics (health)
Habitat and production conditions
Trade in animals
International trade in animals
Waste
Non-food activities
Epizootics
Zoonoses
Other diseases
Wildlife
Livestock
Primary resources
Export certification
Production industry and trade of animal products
Human food
Slaughtering
/ harvesting
Zoonoses
Human health
11/Item8

12. Fundamental Components
Effective VS / AAHS have four fundamental components:
the human, physical and financial resources to attract resources and retain professionals with technical and leadership skills;
the technical authority and capability to address current and new issues including prevention and control of biological disasters based on scientific principles;
the sustained interaction with stakeholders in order to stay on course and carry out relevant joint programmes and services; and
the ability to access markets through compliance with existing standards and the implementation of new disciplines such as the harmonisation of standards, equivalence and zoning.
12/Item8

13. How is the PVS Tool structured ?
13/Item8

14. 4 fundamental components 46 Critical competencies
PVS Tool
PVS
Human,
Physical,
Financial
Resources
Technical
Capability
and
Authority
Interaction
with
Stakeholders
Market
Access
4 fundamental components
46 Critical competencies
5 levels of advancement
Market
Access
14/Item8

15. Each Component comprises 6 - 14 Critical competencies
PVS Tool: Fundamental Components
I . Human, Physical and Financial Resources
II . Technical Authority and Capability
III. Interaction with Stakeholders
IV. Access to Markets
Each Component comprises Critical competencies
15/Item8

16. PVS Tool: Critical Competencies
The OIE PVS Tool comprises 39 Critical Competencies
7 of which are divided into 2 sub-CC
Each Critical Competency comprises:
A definition
5 Levels of advancement
Indicators
References to the Code
16/Item8

17. Definition
A specific competence of the VS necessary for the country to comply with OIE standards
Example:
I.7 Physical resources
The access of the VS to relevant physical resources including buildings, transport, telecommunications, cold chain, and other relevant equipment (e.g. computers).
17/Item8

18. Levels of Advancement
Progressive and complementary information related to the compliance with OIE standards.
5 levels of advancement (qualitative) for each critical competency
A higher level assumes compliance with all preceding levels
Level of advancement 1
No compliance
Level of advancement 2
Level of advancement 3
Level of advancement 4
Level of advancement 5 - Full compliance with OIE Standards
18/Item8

19. Example: Levels of Advancement
I-7 Physical resources
The access of the VS to relevant physical resources including buildings, transport, telecommunications, cold chain, and other relevant equipment (e.g. computers).
1. The VS have no or unsuitable physical resources at almost all levels and maintenance of existing infrastructures is poor or non-existent
2. The VS have suitable physical resources at national (central) level and at some regional levels, and maintenance and replacement of obsolete items occurs only occasionally
3. The VS have suitable physical resources at national, regional and some local levels and maintenance and replacement of obsolete items occurs only occasionally
4. The VS have suitable physical resources at all levels and these are regularly maintained
5. The VS have suitable physical resources at all levels (national, sub-national and local levels) and these are regularly maintained and updated as more advanced and sophisticated items become available
19/Item8

20. Indicators
Possible sources of information to identify the level of advancement
each critical competency counts with a proposed list of indicators for each Level of advancement
The list proposed is INDICATIVE and not EXAUSTIVE or mandatory
The experts should always seek for the most appropriate references for each case
20/Item8

21. Suggested indicators or sources of verification
Example: A full critical competency
I-7 Physical resources
The access of the VS to relevant physical resources including buildings, transport telecommunications, cold chain, and other relevant equipment (e.g. computers).
Levels of advancement
Suggested indicators or sources of verification
1. The VS have no or unsuitable physical resources at almost all levels and maintenance of existing infrastructure is poor or non-existent.
Inventory of physical resources (including quantity, description or type, condition), including buildings, telecommunications (telephone, mobiles phones, fax machine, radio, Internet), computers and extensions (printers, scanners, copiers), transports, cold chain and specific equipment
Geographical and functional distribution of physical resources
Management of physical resources: procedures and records regarding ownership, acquisition, maintenance, renewal and disposal.
2. The VS have suitable physical resources at national (central) level and at some regional levels, and maintenance and replacement of obsolete items occurs only occasionally.
3. The VS have suitable physical resources at national, regional and some local levels and maintenance and replacement of obsolete items occurs only occasionally.
4. The VS have suitable physical resources at all levels and these are regularly maintained.
5. The VS have suitable physical resources at all levels (national, sub-national and local levels) and these are regularly maintained and updated as more advanced and sophisticated items become available.
Evidence of more advanced and sophisticated items
21/Item8

22. Terrestrial Code references
References to the Code
Appendix 1: Terrestrial Code references for critical competencies
Critical Competences
Terrestrial Code references
I-7
Point 2 of Article Evaluation criteria for quality system
Points 2 and 3 of Article Evaluation criteria for material resources: Administrative / Technical.
Point 3 of Article Performance assessment and audit programmes: Compliance.
Point 4 of- Article Administration details.
22/Item8

23. How to analyze a critical competency?
Gather information
Documents
Field visits
Interviews
Identify relevant information
Some elements relates to many CC
This will represent the “Findings”
Assign the appropriate level of advancement
Identify and refer the relevant evidence to support this level
Identify Key Strengths, Weaknesses and recommendations
23/Item8

24. A critical competency In the PVS Report The definition
The Level of advancement
Evidence
Findings
Strengths
Weaknesses
Recommendations

25. Chapter I Human, Physical and Financial Resources
Critical competencies
Section I Professional and technical staffing of the Veterinary Services
Section I Competencies of veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals
Section I Continuing education
Section I Technical independence
Section I Stability of structures and sustainability of policies
Section I Coordination capability of the Veterinary Services
Section I Physical resources
Section I Operational funding
Section I Emergency funding
Section I Capital investment
Section I Management of resources and operations
25/Item8

26. Chapter II Technical Authority and Capability
Critical competencies
Section II Veterinary laboratory diagnosis
Section II Laboratory quality assurance
Section II Risk analysis
Section II Quarantine and border security
Section II Epidemiological surveillance
Section II Early detection and emergency response
Section II Disease prevention, control and eradication
Section II Food safety
Section II Veterinary medicines and biologicals
Section II Residue testing
Section II Emerging issues
Section II Technical innovation
Section II Identification and traceability
Section II Animal welfare
26/Item8

27. Chapter III Interaction with Stakeholders
Critical competencies
Section III Communications
Section III Consultation with stakeholders
Section III Official representation
Section III Accreditation / authorisation / delegation
Section III Veterinary Statutory Body
Section III Participation of producers and other stakeholders in joint programmes
27/Item8

28. Chapter IV Access to Markets
Critical competencies
Section IV Preparation of legislation and regulations, and implementation of regulations
Section IV Implementation of legislation and regulations and stakeholder compliance
Section IV International harmonisation
Section IV International certification
Section IV Equivalence and other types of sanitary agreements
Section IV Transparency
Section IV Zoning
Section IV Compartmentalisation
28/Item8

29. What are the outcomes of an evaluation using the PVS Tool ?
29/Item8

30. PVS Tool: the outcomes A PVS Evaluation report includes
Updated general information on the country, on the country’s animal health and production sectors and on the Veterinary Services
Qualitative assessment of each of the 46 Critical Competencies:
The level of advancement observed
Detailed findings supporting the level of advancement assigned
Strengths and weaknesses
Recommendations to improve the Veterinary Services’ compliance with international standards
Referenced evidences
30/Item8 30

31. PVS Tool: the outcomes (Cont.)
Outcomes DO NOT comprise:
Quantitative qualifications
An overall qualification for the whole Veterinary Services
Subjective judgement (e.g.: “good” or “bad”)
Averages values
Comparison to other reports, countries, or regions
31/Item8 31

32. PVS Tool : future developments
Updates to the Terrestrial Code
Chapter 3.4. Veterinary legislation (for adoption in May )
Future developments in:
Veterinary Education
Veterinary Statutory Bodies
And more!
32/Item8 32

33. Organisation Mondiale de la Santé Animale
World Organisation for Animal Health
Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal
33/Item8