RT Journal Article
T1 Development of the European Veterinary Medicines Gaps and Needs Compass for Sheep and Goats Based on Online Survey and Expert Knowledge Elicitation
A1 Čudina, Nikola
A1 Marić, Marina
A1 Chambers, Lauren
A1 Vidalinc, Margot
A1 Aagaard, Anne Katrine
A1 Balado, Javier
A1 Bratić, Petra
A1 Ganter, Martin
A1 Grønborg, Allan Hägg
A1 Şenyüz, Hasan Hüseyin
A1 Spezzigu, Antonio
A1 Pazarakioti, Aikaterini
A1 Phythian, Clare
A1 Helden, Rianne van
A1 Katsoulos, Panagiotis D.
A1 Anadón Navarro, Arturo Ramón
A1 Baduel, Laure
A1 Demay, Flore
A1 Dobbenburgh, Rens van
A1 Williams, Shereene
A1 Kovacs, Janos
A1 Hout, Jobke van
A1 Božić, Frane
A1 De Briyne, Nancy
A1 Jansen, Wiebke
AB Simple SummarySheep and goats often lack essential veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) across Europe as these are either not authorized, not marketed or not developed yet. This mixed-methods study involves surveying European veterinarians working with small ruminants, analysis of the EMA Union Product Database for VMPs, and expert-led prioritization of VMP needs gaps. For all reported problems, experts provided specific root causes and potential solutions. This combined approach identifies the following most frequently recorded VMP lack of availability: vaccines; pain relief medicines (analgesics); and specific antimicrobials against mastitis and dewormers (anthelmintics). Furthermore, only one third of authorized medicines for sheep and goats were found to be recorded as available in the EMA Union Product Database. Additionally, experts indicate that many required medicines critical for daily practice are not authorized in European countries, necessitating veterinarians to resort to “the cascade” to meet certain pharmaceutical requirements. The described European Veterinary Medicines Gaps and Needs Compass for sheep and goats may support and guide relevant stakeholders in increasing availability of authorized VMPs. In this way, current data and knowledge may be better understood and usefully translated into action.
AB AbstractLimited availability of veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) for small ruminants is a long-standing challenge. This mixed-methods study provides the first systematic definition and assessment of (i) shortages, (ii) lack of availability and (iii) unmet needs for sheep and goats across Europe. Survey data from 96 European veterinarians in 13 European countries (the majority of whom were from Spain, Germany, France, and Greece), a market analysis of authorized and available VMPs via the EMA Union Products Database (UPD) and expert knowledge elicitation (EKE) by 23 specialists were combined. Antimicrobials (36.7%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (19.9%) were identified as the VMP categories most commonly perceived as critically important. Although nearly 5000 VMPs are authorized for small ruminants at the EU level, UPD market research reveals that there is a reported market availability of 28.9% of ovine and 32.7% of caprine authorized VMPs. Validation by EKE confirmed lack of VMP authorization to be the leading root cause of the lack of availability of ovine (31%) and caprine (43%) VMPs at both the national and EU level. The European Veterinary Medicines Gaps and Needs Compass identifies four highest-priority medicine groups lacking in availability for sheep (anthelmintics and endectocides, bacterial and viral vaccines) and two for goats (anthelmintics and bacterial vaccines). Moreover, 13 highest-priority unmet needs were identified for sheep and 14 for goats across antibacterials, analgetics and anti-inflammatories, antiparasitics and vaccines. Potential actionable solutions advised through EKE include harmonized market access pathways and targeted development (especially for vaccines, NSAIDs, and antibiotic teat injectors) to secure animal health, welfare, and One Health objectives.
PB MDPI
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/134827
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/134827
LA eng
NO Čudina, N., Marić, M., Chambers, L., Vidalinc, M., Aagaard, A. K., Balado, J., Bratić, P., Ganter, M., Grønborg, A. H., Şenyüz, H. H., Spezzigu, A., Pazarakioti, A., Phythian, C., Helden, R. v., Katsoulos, P. D., Anadón, A., Baduel, L., Demay, F., Dobbenburgh, R. v., ... Jansen, W. (2026). Development of the European Veterinary Medicines Gaps and Needs Compass for Sheep and Goats Based on Online Survey and Expert Knowledge Elicitation. Veterinary Sciences, 13(3), 297. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13030297
NO Author ContributionsConceptualization, W.J. and N.D.B.; methodology, W.J., N.Č. and M.M.; software, N.Č., M.M.; validation, L.C. and M.V.; formal analysis, N.Č. and M.M.; investigation, W.J., N.D.B. and M.M.; resources, A.K.A., J.B., P.B., M.G., A.H.G., H.H.Ş., A.S., A.P., C.P., R.v.H., P.D.K., A.A., L.B., F.D., R.v.D., S.W., J.K. and J.v.H.; data curation, M.M., N.Č. and W.J.; writing—original draft preparation, N.Č., W.J. and M.M.; writing—review and editing, N.Č., M.M., A.K.A., J.B., P.B., M.G., A.H.G., H.H.Ş., A.S., A.P., C.P., R.v.H., P.D.K., A.A., L.B., F.D., R.v.D., S.W., J.K., J.v.H., F.B., N.D.B. and W.J.; visualization, N.Č., M.M. and W.J.; supervision, P.D.K., F.B., W.J. and N.D.B.; project administration, W.J., N.D.B., P.D.K. and M.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 21 ago 2026