THE VETERINARIAN AS A LEGAL-SANITARY AGENT IN THE CONTROL OF ZOONOSES: CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF BRAZILIAN PUBLIC HEALTH

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of veterinarians as legal-sanitary agents in the control of zoonoses in Brazil, in light of public health regulations and the One Health approach. The premise is that the veterinarian's performance goes beyond the technical boundaries of clinical practice and animal surveillance, having direct repercussions on the prevention of diseases that also affect humans, especially in urban contexts marked by inequality and deficiencies in public services. This is a qualitative study based on bibliographic and documentary research, focusing on Brazilian sanitary and environmental legislation, as well as international guidelines. The structural, institutional, and normative challenges that hinder the effective integration of veterinarians into the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) are examined, along with the gaps in public policy implementation regarding transversal and intersectoral zoonosis surveillance. The discussion reveals that the role of veterinarians in public health remains undervalued, despite being essential for health governance and for responding to epidemiological emergencies, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper argues that strengthening the presence of veterinarians in public policy requires recognizing their function as legal-sanitary agents, improving legislation, and effectively applying the principle of prevention in environmental health. It concludes that valuing this professional is strategic to realizing the right to health in its integral dimension, in line with international commitments undertaken by Brazil within the framework of global environmental and health governance.