The Ministry of Health & Medical Services has addressed and dismissed rumors regarding a strike by Radiology and Pharmacy staff at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM). According to the Ministry’s statement, the hospital is facing a shortage of qualified professionals in these departments, leading to a temporary reduction in services.
Currently, both the Radiology and Pharmacy Departments at CWM are operating from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM from Monday to Friday. For urgent cases, emergency radiological services can be referred to private providers after regular hours if required.
The Ministry clarified that the staff members have not gone on strike but are following the Ministry of Civil Service’s Circular 14/2024 on Overtime Work and Time-off-in-Lieu (TOIL), issued on October 1, 2024. This circular restricts overtime compensation to specific salary bands, contributing to the ongoing staffing shortages, particularly among Allied Health staff who are taking TOIL leave.
The Ministry of Health is actively communicating with the Ministry of Civil Service regarding these challenges and is committed to finding solutions to ensure quality health services remain available to the public. Permanent Secretary for Civil Service, Parmesh Chand, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the two ministries, with a meeting scheduled to explore strategies for workforce sustainability.
Acknowledging the efforts of its dedicated staff and the impact of staff shortages on patient care, the Ministry is taking steps to remedy this situation. It is also engaging with partners and educational institutions, including the Fiji National University and the University of Fiji, to devise a comprehensive health workforce plan. This plan, aimed at addressing both short-term and long-term staffing needs, is expected to be finalized and launched in early 2025.
In summary, while the situation at CWM highlights ongoing staffing challenges, the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Health and Civil Service and engagement with educational bodies show a proactive approach to ensuring the health sector can meet the needs of the community.
This is indeed a challenging time for healthcare providers, but the commitment to collaboration and strategic planning gives hope for a stronger healthcare workforce in the future, ultimately benefiting patient care and staff wellbeing.
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