A total of 280 medical officers have resigned from Fiji’s Ministry of Health over the course of 2022 and 2023, leading to a shortage of experienced specialist doctors. This year alone, 15 doctors have stepped down.
These statistics were shared by Dr. Basharat Munshi, the outgoing President of the Fiji Medical Association, during the association’s 63rd annual conference at the Hilton Resort on Saturday. He expressed concern over the loss of senior doctors, stating, “One of the things that concerns us is the seniority of the doctors that are leaving. We have doctors who have been trained, and who are specialists. That calibre of people leaving hurts us.”
Dr. Munshi pointed out that a considerable number of these resignations have occurred as physicians transition to the private sector, with a significant outflow noted in both 2022 and 2023. He emphasized the need for the Ministry of Health to carry out a survey to explore the reasons behind doctors’ departures, identifying both “push” and “pull” factors.
Minister for Health, Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu, recognized the problem, confirming that it is significantly affecting healthcare services in both primary care and larger hospitals. Nonetheless, he observed that the rate of resignations has decreased this year.
“The pull factors, we can’t compete with. It’s about improving working conditions, remuneration, and over time, listening to their concerns and addressing them,” stated Dr. Lalabalavu. He added, “Even if we improve infrastructure, human resources are crucial for delivering quality healthcare, and addressing both the push and pull factors is essential.”