The customer service review of Ta’ Qali animal hospital ordered by the Government was prompted by complaints of high fees, Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes said yesterday morning as he stood outside the centre.

His explanation came after the vet who runs the hospital, Trevor Zammit, filed a letter in court on Wednesday objecting to the review.

Mr Galdes, who yesterday refused Mr Zammit’s invitation to hold his press conference inside the hospital, said the Government had held discussions with animal NGOs who complained about the fees, which reflected public feedback.

“We want to keep Ċentru San Franġisk operating in a sustainable and affordable manner but it should also be accessible and affordable to everyone, including pensioners and minimum-wage earners,” he said.

The centre, built with €420,000 of government money, was inaugurated in 2010 and Dr Zammit was contracted to operate it following a public call for applications.

The planned customer service review will involve speaking to 500 people over the phone. The public will be able to send in comments by e-mail.

Asked whether the Government would consider imposing affordable prices, Mr Galdes said it would first have to see the conclusions of the review.

An agreement for fixed fees, he said, could be reached with the operator but the Government’s role was to ensure that the centre was accessible as had originally been promised.

He also noted that despite the previous administration having announced that veterinary care to strays brought in by the Animal Welfare Department was to be given free of charge, the department was paying some €80,000 a year. Bills for this year had already amounted to €25,000.

As Mr Galdes spoke, Mr Zammit repeatedly invited him to hold the press conference indoors.

Media representatives had been asked inside as Mr Zammit was treating a dog but were then escorted outside to wait for Mr Galdes.

When the parliamentary secretary turned up, Dr Zammit re-emerged to extend his invitation to the group, saying they would be like “refugees” if they stayed outside. But Mr Galdes refused and Dr Zammit retreated to the clinic.

In a statement last night, the animal centre said that under its contract with the previous government, privately owned animals were treated at the “ongoing commercial rate”.

The centre said it tried to keep the fees as low as possible but the market dictated medicine and operation prices. The service provided had always been of high standard, and the organisation has grown from nine employees to 35 in two years.

NGOs also got a 20 per cent discount, according to the contract.

Explaining Mr Galdes’ reference to the €80,000 paid by the animal welfare division, it said a clause in its contract stipulated that the department was to be billed for medicinal and medical material expenses.

Anything billed was first authorised by the director of the department.

The centre added that the operator’s main aim was to provide professional veterinary services round the clock to the public and the Animal Welfare Division.

It wanted to make its position clear in terms of the contract and steer away from political issues brewing about the centre.

The PN said there was clearly an ulterior motive behind the review, whose results would not be revealed.

Strays would have to start being put down if the Government reduced its expenditure on the centre, it said.

If the operator was not breaching any clauses in the agreement, the Government’s action was irresponsible. Otherwise, any breaches should be thrashed out around a table, the PN said.