Fiji’s health workforce remains under strain as nurse numbers continue to fall short of World Health Organization benchmarks, Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa told Parliament this week, warning the shortfall is increasing pressure on services nationwide.
Speaking in the legislative chamber, Ravunawa said Fiji’s doctor-to-population ratio “remains within acceptable international standards,” but that nurses — the bulk of frontline clinical staff — are still in short supply. He said the imbalance is being felt across clinics and hospitals and is affecting the delivery of routine care and surge capacity when demand rises.
“Behind every clinic that opens in the morning, behind every patient that receives treatment and every life that is saved, there is a health worker,” Ravunawa said. “Our doctors, nurses, pharmacists, technicians, cleaners and support staff continue to serve under demanding conditions. They are the backbone of our health system.” His remarks reiterated concerns from health managers who have flagged staffing pressures in both urban hospitals and peripheral health centers.
Ravunawa told MPs the Ministry of Health is taking a multipronged approach to narrow the gap, focusing on strengthening recruitment, expanding training opportunities and improving retention measures for healthcare staff. He did not set out detailed timelines or numeric targets in his address, but said the ministry is actively developing strategies to ensure services are delivered effectively despite current constraints.
The assistant minister’s comments represent the latest public confirmation from government that workforce shortages — particularly among nurses — remain a critical challenge for Fiji’s health sector. Shortfalls in nursing staff can exacerbate workload for existing personnel, increase wait times for patients and limit routine outreach and preventive services that are vital in island and rural communities.
Ravunawa used his parliamentary platform to praise the dedication of all health workers, from clinicians to support staff, acknowledging the demanding conditions under which many continue to operate. He also signalled that the ministry’s efforts will include both immediate recruitment drives and longer-term investments in training and retention, although specifics on incentives, overseas recruitment or targeted rural staffing measures were not provided.
Health sector stakeholders will be watching for further announcements from the Ministry of Health outlining concrete steps, timelines and resource commitments to address the shortfall in nurses. For now, Ravunawa’s statement underscores a persistent gap between workforce capacity and international norms — a dynamic that the government says it is working to resolve while maintaining frontline services for Fijians.
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