Fiji is strengthening its nursing and midwifery workforce through a two-day Strengthening Health Workforce Workshop held at the Holiday Inn, with a laser focus on regulation and accreditation in the nursing sector. The event brings together senior nurses and midwives from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to chart a path for higher standards and more robust governance in the region’s largest segment of the health workforce.
Opening the workshop, Acting Chief Medical Advisor Dr Luisa Cikamatana praised nurses and midwives for their crucial role in health delivery, describing them as the heartbeat of the system whose work is both essential and transformative. She underscored the need for solid regulatory frameworks and clear standards to support frontline professionals who serve communities across Fiji and the broader Pacific.
Health officials note that nurses and midwives account for about 86 percent of the regulated health workforce across the Pacific, underscoring their central place in delivering safe and effective care. The discussions at the workshop are intended to guide government efforts to strengthen and empower the nursing and midwifery professions by identifying gaps in current policies and forging stronger links between regulation, accreditation, education, and ongoing professional development.
The event is organized in partnership with several regional and international partners, including the University of Technology Sydney, the South Pacific Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officers Alliance, Australian Aid, and the Ministry itself. This collaboration reflects a broader push to align Fiji’s standards with regional and global best practices, ensuring nurses and midwives have clear career pathways and the resources needed to maintain high-quality care.
Context and outlook
The workshop sits within a wider framework of regional health system strengthening, including initiatives such as the ResPACT project led by Fiji’s health leadership to share experiences and scalable solutions for resilient health systems. It echoes ongoing momentum around World Bank initiatives focused on policy understanding, cross-border collaboration, and sustainable workforce development for Pacific Island Countries. Taken together, these efforts emphasize retaining healthcare professionals, upgrading training, and elevating regulation to meet evolving population needs and emergency challenges.
Potential impact
Strengthening regulation, accreditation, and continuing professional development is seen as essential not only for improving patient outcomes but also for retaining talent in a region where workforce pressures and migration remain persistent concerns. By consolidating leadership learnings and regional learnings, Fiji aims to deliver clearer standards, stronger governance, and more robust educational pathways for nurses and midwives, contributing to a healthier and more resilient Pacific to withstand climate-related and health emergencies.
Additional note
This focus on regulatory strengthening aligns with broader regional discussions about improving remuneration frameworks, career advancement opportunities, and targeted retention strategies that are already shaping health policy across Fiji and its neighbors. The overarching message is one of sustained commitment to building a self-reinforcing system where regulation supports quality care, education advances practice, and nurses and midwives feel prepared and valued in their critical roles.
In summary
The two-day workshop marks a concrete step in Fiji’s ongoing effort to raise nursing and midwifery standards through better regulation, accreditation, and professional development, framed by regional collaboration and global health policy dynamics. The initiative signals optimism for stronger health systems, improved patient care, and greater workforce resilience across the Pacific.
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