Ta' Qali animal hospital to open ‘in coming weeks' - minister

The Ta’ Qali animal hospital will reopen in the coming weeks after being closed for the past two years, Education Minister Clifton Grima said in parliament on Wednesday. 

Grima was replying to a parliamentary question by shadow minister for animal welfare Janice Chetcuti. 

The hospital, which was closed in 2023 after a power surge severely damaged machines, was meant to reopen last year but faced delays for undisclosed reasons. 

The hospital will be run by MCAST, which won the concession, in collaboration with Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). 

“It will be a space for students to learn, train and practice in an environment that is bigger, more complex and offers more opportunities for specialisation than a clinic,” the minister said. 

Without giving a specific date, the minister said the hospital would reopen “in the coming weeks,” with procurement in its final stages.

Asked by Chetcuti whether the MCAST/UAB degree would be recognised in Malta, Grima insisted the qualification was recognised by all European countries. 

The Opposition had pressed for answers on when the hospital would reopen, promising to reopen it and expand its services if elected to government.  

“This [the closure] has left pet owners living in constant fear that, should their animal require emergency care at unusual hours, they may lose their companion forever. Sadly, such cases are reported almost every week,” Chetcuti had said. 

In July, the Animal Welfare Ministry said that it would be launching a new scheme that would provide 24/7 veterinary services for pets through various private clinics. The Malta Veterinary Association said it was in “advanced” talks with the government to launch the scheme but said the reopening of a fully equipped animal hospital remained “essential to safeguarding standards of care.”