A national emergency veterinary service has been launched to provide access to urgent animal healthcare outside standard working hours, introducing a new framework for overnight and out-of-hours veterinary assistance in Malta and Gozo.
The service, announced by the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, is built around three main measures intended to address gaps in emergency veterinary care during nights, weekends and public holidays.
The first measure is a free national emergency veterinary helpline, available on 153 Ext. 22 and operated by Servizz.gov. The helpline functions as the initial point of contact, where cases are assessed, basic guidance is provided, and callers are directed to appropriate veterinary services when required.
A second measure consists of a state-funded emergency care support scheme covering after-hours consultations for small companion animals in genuine emergency situations. Under this scheme, pet owners will be reimbursed for the cost of the consultation. The Ministry is expected to issue a call for expressions of interest for private veterinary clinics in Malta and Gozo to participate, based on specific criteria.
The third element is the opening of an emergency veterinary clinic in Fgura, located at 7, Reggie Miller Gardens, which will operate outside normal working hours. The clinic will be open daily from 8:00pm to 8:00am, including Sundays, and will operate throughout the day on Sundays and public holidays. Members of the public are encouraged to contact the helpline before attending, to facilitate case management and reduce unnecessary congestion.
The introduction of the service coincides with ongoing public concern about the lack of a permanent 24/7 national veterinary hospital following the closure of the Ta’ Qali Animal Hospital in August 2023. The hospital, which previously served as Malta’s only round-the-clock emergency veterinary facility, has remained closed for nearly two years, prompting criticism from animal welfare groups and repeated calls for a long-term solution.
Animal welfare organisations have welcomed any increase in after-hours access but have also raised questions about the consistency, scope and sustainability of interim arrangements relying on limited facilities and private sector participation. Many argue that temporary or partial measures do not fully address structural shortcomings in Malta’s emergency veterinary infrastructure.
Authorities have described the new national emergency veterinary service as an interim system intended to provide coverage during hours when most private clinics are closed, pending further developments. Its performance and impact are expected to be closely observed, particularly in light of continued scrutiny surrounding emergency animal healthcare and calls for greater transparency and long-term planning.
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