The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)’s first ever virtual PVS Pathway mission ⁽¹⁾ is underway. The PVS Sustainable Laboratories mission is the first PVS Pathway mission ever to have occurred 100% virtually. The mission kick-off meeting took place on 25 February 2021 and the mission itself occurs from 22 March to 2 April. The experience is helping the OIE to test a digitised approach, with the hopes of providing a more digital PVS Pathway offering for all Members in the future.

Why virtual PVS Sustainable Laboratories missions?

Many activities, including meetings, missions, and travel were not able to be implemented due to the uncertain sanitary situation.

This situation has revealed a need to support the Veterinary Services of OIE Members through more digitised services in the PVS Pathway as digitisation has become a necessity. Through the PVS Sustainable Laboratories missions (already preparing for virtual delivery prior to the pandemic), the OIE took advantage of the situation to test an entirely virtual format in an effort to respond to Members’ needs and to keep Members moving towards their VS’ goals.

Given the data-based approach of the PVS Sustainable Laboratories mission, data can be easily entered into the offline data entry tools, and enhanced with automatic visualisations under development for added value of the data. While there are challenges to this format, tools such as a web portal with electronic forms and dynamic dashboards will facilitate digital PVS Pathway services in the future.

What are the requirements for a virtual PVS Sustainable Laboratories mission to be successful?

In order to ensure the best possible conditions under which a PVS Sustainable Laboratories mission can occur, a strong engagement by the Member, Delegate, and Country Contact Person is required. A stable national context over several months with no change in Veterinary Service leadership, reliable internet connection, dedication to engage with the PVS Pathway Experts, and a contact person and interlocutors with well-established responsibilities are necessary for best outcomes. They must be available and responsive, both for written communications and virtual meetings with the team of experts, and for providing all documents and information requested, particularly in the data collection phase. Good interaction with the OIE Regional Representations makes this work more successful and feasible.

Will virtual missions be the ‘new normal’ for the future?

The successes, challenges, and lessons learned of the pilot virtual PVS Sustainable Laboratories mission will be documented to inform the development of other virtual PVS Pathway missions.

The digitisation of these PVS Pathway activities will be gradual. The experience of the pilot virtual PVS Sustainable Laboratories mission has already shown easier data entry, better data quality, better and quicker insight. With the digitisation of the PVS Sustainable Laboratories’ methodology and data, PVS Pathway Experts and Members can leverage data and tools beyond the PVS Sustainable Laboratories mission and help determine the level of advancement for the PVS Critical Competencies (PVS CC) relevant to laboratories, providing seamless continuity of data throughout the PVS Pathway and more access for more Members.

 
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(1) The OIE PVS Pathway is a global programme for the sustainable development of a country’s veterinary services. This global programme encompasses a PVS Evaluation (qualitative diagnosis on compliance with quality standards, providing baseline information), a PVS Gap Analysis including Veterinary Services Strategic Priorities, and specific capacity building activities, projects and programmes. The possible topics for action comprise veterinary legislation, public/private partnerships, veterinary education, laboratories (mainly in the form of OIE Twinning Projects), followed by regular PVS Pathway follow-up missions to monitor progress made.

Contact: J. Lasley, Preparedness and Resilience Department, OIE or V. Sharandak, Capacity Building Department, OIE

◼ OIE News – March 2021