Critical Healthcare Supplies Run Dry in Fiji: What’s Going Wrong?

The Fiji Medical Association has raised alarm over a concerning list of critical medicines and essential supplies that are currently out of stock in public hospitals across the country. Dr. Alipate Vakamocea, the association’s president, has called on the government to take immediate action to rectify these shortages.

Dr. Vakamocea highlighted the unavailability of reagents required for conducting complete blood counts, which are vital for diagnosing various health conditions, including infections, anemia, immune system disorders, and blood cancers. The dearth of these reagents hampers doctors’ ability to deliver accurate diagnoses and continuous patient monitoring.

The Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services (FPBS), which is responsible for the procurement of medications and medical equipment, has been cited as a key source of the ongoing supply issues. Dr. Vakamocea emphasized that systemic changes are necessary to improve the situation within FPBS to effectively alleviate shortages.

Dr. Luke Nasedra, the medical superintendent of CWM Hospital, confirmed the laboratory is also experiencing reagent shortages. He clarified that the delays are linked to procurement processes at FPBS. In light of these challenges, the laboratory team at CWM Hospital is transferring tests to other government laboratories and private facilities equipped to fulfil quality assurance standards, ensuring patient care remains uninterrupted.

While the current shortages present significant challenges to the healthcare system, the proactive measures being implemented to manage patient care demonstrate resilience within the public health sector. Collaboration with private facilities and reassessing internal processes may pave the way for improved availability of medical supplies and a more robust healthcare system moving forward.

This situation underscores the need for continuous dialogue between medical professionals and policymakers to enhance the procurement processes, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for the community.