The development is significant for India’s $2.1 billion veterinary clinic and hospital market, according to Ken Research, a market research and consulting firm.
“The guidelines will help set minimum infrastructure and service benchmarks for veterinary hospitals and dispensaries across states, reducing regional disparities. The benchmarks act as a planning and funding guide for states to upgrade and build veterinary infrastructure,” said an official, requesting anonymity. “Defining essential services and facilities ensures timely and quality animal health care at the local level.”
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has introduced comprehensive national guidelines to modernize pet and livestock medical care and ensure consistent services across the country, closing disparities in access to quality veterinary care, particularly in remote regions.
DAHD has established a committee to advise on the formulation of minimum criteria for veterinary hospitals and dispensaries and to provide actionable tools to strengthen facilities, define essential services and overall improvement. livestock health. The committee’s recommendations, presented on November 19, were adopted by the government as a framework for harmonizing the veterinary infrastructure nationwide.
The standards mandate specific physical requirements to ensure quality services, including areas for examination of crushed cattle (stalls or cages for livestock), minor surgical units and drug dispensaries for primary centers.
The new framework introduces a structured four-tiered institutional system. At the grassroots level, primary veterinary care centers (PVCCs) will serve clusters of gram panchayats, with one PVCC for every 5,000 livestock units to focus on vaccinations, common ailments and minor surgeries. These will be supported by block veterinary hospitals at the tehsil level to handle moderate to complex cases and provide diagnostic services.
Super specialty hospitals
The third level of district veterinary hospitals will serve as regional centers for urgent care and advanced diagnostics. At the top level, state veterinary polyclinics and super-specialty hospitals will offer specialist services such as virology, digital imaging and dental care. Upper levels will have dedicated operating rooms, biochemistry labs, biosafety level labs and post-mortem facilities.
India has 30,184 government-run veterinary clinics, 24,532 relief centers and 13,173 hospitals. In addition, there are about 10,000 private veterinary clinics, according to the State Veterinary Council of India (VCI). Major veterinary clinics and hospital chains include Max Vets, Cessna Lifeline, Crown Veterinary Services, Dr. Paws and Urban Vet.
The The number of pets in India is 35 million, according to Invest India and DAHD. According to the 20th Livestock Census (2019), the country has 535.78 million livestock including 192.49 million cattle, 148.88 million goats, 109.85 million buffaloes, 74.26 million sheep and 9.06 million pigs.
The guidelines also clearly define human resource standards to ensure adequate staffing, hence a minimum number of 19 specialists, including specialist surgeons and pathologists, is mandatory for district hospitals. Each primary center should have at least one qualified veterinarian and one para-veterinarian for every 1,000 livestock. To ensure last-mile reach, mobile veterinary units with diagnostic kits and surgical equipment will provide ancillary support through a toll-free call center system.
“These standards define minimum standards for space, infrastructure, manpower and equipment and clearly distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary veterinary care facilities. So this will go a long way in providing quality healthcare for pets and livestock,” said Dr. Kunal Dev Sharma, Chief Veterinary Surgeon, MaxPetZ, a chain of veterinary hospitals and clinics.
Inquiries emailed to a spokesperson for the animal husbandry department on Jan. 21 went unanswered.
National priority
According to Basic Livestock Statistics 2025, India’s livestock sector contributed 5.49% or ₹8.86 trillion to total gross value added (GVA) at current prices in FY24, with exported products reaching ₹66,249 crore in FY25.
“Strengthened infrastructure will also extend the benefits to companion animals such as dogs and cats… While the economic contribution of the livestock sector is huge, these standards confirm that animal welfare is a national priority,” said Dr Piyush Patel, Veterinarian and Director of the Street Dog Program, Humane World for Animals India. “To maximize the potential of this framework, we urge a parallel focus on addressing staff shortages and developing specialist skills to ensure these modern facilities are fully operational.”
“These guidelines are expected to significantly improve the quality of animal healthcare, ensure ethical practices and strengthen disease surveillance,” said Dr Anuj Kumar, a veterinarian in Chandigarh. “Many clinics and hospitals lack even basic infrastructure. With the guidelines in place, the upcoming clinics will ensure that animals receive timely and scientific treatment, regardless of their location.”
