In the latest development in Fiji’s health workforce, 345 newly graduated nurses were formally inducted into the national health system today at an induction ceremony held in Lami as part of the 2026 Nursing Intern Induction Programme. The cohort includes graduates from nursing schools across the country, notably the Fiji National University, Sangam College of Nursing and the University of Fiji.
Acting Permanent Secretary for Health Dr Luisa Rauto congratulated the new nurses and framed their induction as a pivotal moment for the Ministry. “To our 345 new nurses, the Ministry looks to you with great hope. You are the next generation. You are the strength of our healthcare workforce, and you represent hope for the people we serve,” she said, underscoring the expectation that the interns will be central to efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.
Dr Rauto reminded the graduates that their responsibilities will extend beyond clinical duties at major hospitals. She urged them to approach their first postings with a spirit of service, particularly when deployed to rural and maritime communities where nurses are frequently the first—and sometimes only—point of contact for health care. “Our mission is to deliver high-quality healthcare to every Fijian. And you, the nurses who will work in our hospitals, health centres and remote nursing stations, are the heart of that mission,” she said.
Following the ceremony, the new nursing interns will begin placements across a range of health facilities around the country as part of their transition into the national workforce. The Ministry has signalled that these placements will see graduates distributed to hospitals, health centres and remote nursing stations, aligning workforce supply with community needs, particularly in underserved areas.
The induction adds a significant cohort to Fiji’s nursing workforce at a time when frontline health services rely heavily on nurses to deliver primary and emergency care across urban, rural and maritime settings. The Ministry’s remarks at the ceremony emphasised the dual role the interns will play: delivering immediate patient care and contributing to longer-term national goals of improving access and quality of healthcare for all Fijians.
While the induction marks the formal start of the interns’ professional placements, the Ministry will oversee their supervised transition as they complete the Nursing Intern programme requirements. The graduates’ entry into service completes an academic-to-practice step for those who trained at institutions including Fiji National University, Sangam College of Nursing and the University of Fiji, and signals the government’s continued investment in building human resources for health.
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