Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1539444
7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 SEPTEMBER 2025 OPINION Loved and hated: On being a vet shortcomings in what is available in such a small market as Malta. Let us therefore first acknowledge the facts, and the problems, of our sector. Unfeasible for all clinics to run 24/7 Malta has a healthy and growing veter- inary community, with a budding team of young and speciality veterinarians pushing the level of services available to a remarkable standard even by in- ternational measures. This community is a diverse and dynamic group of pro- fessionals who may differ in their offer- ings and schools of thought, but share a common love and pride for the profes- sion. After all, all veterinarians in Mal- ta have dedicated a long and expensive (financially, socially and mentally) stint of their studies abroad, and chose to re- turn to our island to offer their services here, with all the limitations that a small market carries. Most of these vets, especially the more established ones, have invested con- siderably in the current infrastructure. Banks are involved, financing can be daunting, and yet I still see colleagues eagerly choosing to exhaust their credit on new equipment or training, rather than a new car, new house or new personal ventures. Too often, our lives are put on hold while we prioritise the setting up of our practices, making sure we are reaching the ever-rising expecta- tions of our clientele. The whole veterinary profession in Malta is private owned, private run and private funded. The vast majority of clinics do not have any government subsidies, are subject to the full spec- trum of taxation requirements and have very complex and wide-ranging legal re- quirements including out-of-hour obli- gations, record keeping, dispensing and professional conduct. These are aimed at avoiding or reducing risks of malprac- tice or lapses in the care-giving mission of our profession. And the vast majori- ty of veterinarians, from house-call ser- vice providers, to single owner clinics and multi-vet practices, do their best to observe all obligations laid down by the law and ethics alike. It is unfeasible and unreasonable, however, to continue ex- pecting each clinic to shoulder the re- sponsibility of running a service open to all, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To my knowledge, no profession or sector is expected to shoulder such responsibility. Addressing shortcomings In my 10 years I have seen our profes- sion rise to every challenge. I consider myself privileged to have led the associ- ation through the very turbulent COVID pandemic, ensuring a continued service to all the public. The sector persevered. Throughout the past years we saw the Ta' Qali hospital open, enter service and shut down, twice. And each time, the veterinary community made sure there is still some form of round the clock ser- vice. Not because of a legal obligation, but because we have always felt the mor- al and ethical need to be there for those who need us. A rotation service has in- deed been around for years, way before local authorities even recognised this need and legislated it. It was set up and is run privately by stalwart veterinari- ans—people who understood, even long ago, a need to fill this lacuna in our field, for the benefit of society. Some clinics now offer out-of-hours service to clients under their care, and not because of ex- clusivity but because their practices or their speciality cannot be offered to the general public as the strain on their sys- tem would expose their practice to risk or malpractice. In this day and age, this service is not enough; not with the current popula- tion boom and the ever-increasing love for our pets. People expect more service, more choice and more peace of mind. The government must step in, carry its responsibilities and support this com- munity now more than ever to help fill this shortcoming. The local authorities must help educate pet owners to inform themselves of the services available. To promote preventive medicine and re- sponsible pet ownership which goes a long way to avoid emergency situations in the first place. And to make sure, any shortcomings in service are addressed, not simply passed onto the profession. Mostly, though, to support a profession plagued by mental health issues, burn- out, depression and brain drain, with the highest statistical rate of suicide for any profession. Indeed, international studies place our profession at twice the likelihood of su- icide compared to normal professions with close to 50% of professionals in our field considering leaving the profession within the first few years of practice. So- cial media has compounded an already sensitive sector, with many in the field now dreading the effects of negative re- views, sensationalised coverage of singu- lar events and a general sway of popular feeling based on the individual experi- ence of a handful of people. Authorities riding popular sentiment Without going into the merits of any single case in particular, it is commonly observed that many of the complainants in these cases do not follow the system and structures in place to report, inves- tigate and discipline any dubious cases or cases of malpractice in the first place, resorting to social media platforms to post, comment and react. It is therefore disheartening to see the authorities in charge of regulating and safeguarding our profession reacting to these singular episodes by piling fur- ther pressure on our profession, using criticism of a structure that, while not perfect, has withstood over two decades of service, in the face of poor odds. This reaction by the regulatory and adminis- trative bodies does nothing to solve the current situation. It merely emboldens people to abuse, verbally and physical- ly, professionals already vulnerable to burnout and ethical conundrums that burden their psyche. We need, more than ever, someone in power who is willing to understand, interact, con- sult and support this sector. To genu- inely respect stakeholders. Only then will we be able to plan our way out of this challenge and rise once again with heads held high, proud to continue our service to the people of this country. To date, the government has chosen to ride popular sentiment, without under- standing the issues at hand or offering real solutions to the problems at hand. I will therefore conclude by painting the most realistic picture I can, with words, for the people reading this and more importantly for the government, of what the vet truly does every day. Hands in excrement, vomit and blood Every day, we wake up early to the ringing of phone calls and messages. We check on our staff, making sure they are ready for another round in the grinder of a clinic we call our second home. We open the doors, and for 10, 11, 12 or more hours we are there, hands in excrement, vomit and blood, listening to barking, meowing and beeping of ma- chines. Thankful that that noise is not shattered by the silence of a loss, or a euthanasia. Consoling pet owners when the time draws near, and making peace with losing pets we have taken care of for years, at times from birth. We hold the hands of new families and the old and vulnerable in our society. We do much more than care for pets, we care for you all. And yes, we do it for a reasonable fee. Because back home, we have a fam- ily and we need to provide, just like the rest of you. But no fee can cover the love and devotion we give every day. Each day is a physical and mental struggle. And support comes only from our loved ones, who live this routine with us every day. Don't expect us to solve all prob- lems. Start by making sure to avoid unnec- essary problems in the first place. For the people, that means building a rela- tionship with your veterinarian. It will be most rewarding. For the government, it is simply by listening and being there when needed, trying to make things bet- ter not worse. Not a hard task then, I assume. It will make our day a little more pleasant.