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ORAL PRESENTATION / SÖZLÜ SUNUM

Combating AMR in Animals in Macedonia:
The Role of Vaccines and Herbal Veterinary Medicines

Romel VELEV

1 University “St. Cyril and Methodius”, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Skopje, Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Skopje, REPUBLIC of NORTH MACEDONIA

*Correspound Author: vromel@fvm.ukim.edu.mk

Veterinary medicine stands at the intersection of animal health, food safety, and public
health, playing a central role in addressing the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance

(AMR). With the growing threat of a post-antibiotic era, there is urgent need for preventive
solutions to reduce antimicrobial use (AMU), particularly in livestock systems.

Vaccines represent an essential tool in reducing the need for antimicrobials by
preventing infectious diseases in animals, improving animal health and welfare, and limiting

zoonotic transmission. Despite their proven value, veterinary vaccines are often underutilized
in practice due to market access limitations and regulatory hurdles. In the Republic of North

Macedonia, similar to many other countries, the veterinary vaccine market remains limited

in scope, and antibiotics are still heavily used. Enhancing vaccine coverage can significantly
improve animal welfare, food security, and public health.

In addition to conventional tools, herbal veterinary medicinal products (HVMP) are
gaining attention for their potential to reduce AMU. Rooted in traditional practices and

backed increasingly by modern evidence, HVMP are sustainable, locally available, and
biodegradable. The MedPlants4Vet network advocates for greater recognition of HVMP,

calling for a simplified regulatory framework that enables access to diverse, high-quality, and

safe herbal veterinary medicines. This presentation explores the dual role of veterinary
vaccines and HVMP in combatting AMR and presents the case of North Macedonia as a

representative example of both the challenges and opportunities in the broader European
context.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, veterinary vaccines, HVMP, North Macedonia,
MedPlants4Vet, animal health, sustainable solutions.

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