Health authorities in Fiji are once again sounding the alarm over medicine shortages, saying demand can sometimes outstrip supply even as the country remains fully dependent on imports. Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu warned that while plans exist to replenish stocks, consumption can outpace replacement, forcing the Health Ministry to place emergency orders with local or international suppliers.
Lalabalavu emphasized that Fiji’s medicines are largely imported from overseas, which makes the system vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions. He noted that even with proactive ordering at critical levels, “things can happen whereby the utilization is faster than when how we replace it,” leaving patients exposed to gaps in availability. The health system’s network hinges on clinical coordination and the Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services, but gaps in supply continue to threaten timely care.
In a related note, the 2025–2026 National Budget confirms that 870 medicines will remain free at public health facilities, a move aimed at easing patient costs amid ongoing shortages. Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa said the ministry would also establish a stand-alone outpatient pharmacy at Aspen to better manage non-admitted patient services and stock management.
While funding is available to respond to shortages, officials concede that stronger coordination and tighter oversight are needed to keep supplies stable. The overarching concern remains: a reliance on imported products, coupled with internal procurement bottlenecks and supplier quality issues, can delay critical medications for those who need them most.
The broader context reflected in recent discussions includes persistent supplier quality problems, with some contracts terminated after products failed to meet agreed standards. These issues have contributed to backlogs, particularly affecting treatments for non-communicable diseases. Public-health commentators have urged comprehensive reforms of Fiji’s medicine procurement process to improve transparency, accountability, and the speed of responses to urgent health needs.
Looking ahead, observers see an opportunity for systemic improvement. Measures already underway in the sector include establishing a new pharmaceutical storage facility at Labasa Hospital to bolster distribution across Vanua Levu, and the rollout of the mSupply system to provide real-time stock visibility across facilities. There are also ongoing efforts to diversify supply lines, including bilateral talks with India to strengthen the medicine pipeline and ensure affordability for the public health system.
Experts and officials alike argue that reform is essential to build a more resilient healthcare framework capable of delivering timely access to medicines, especially for patients with chronic illnesses who face the greatest risk when stockouts occur. A more transparent procurement regime could reduce delays, improve quality controls, and enable faster responses to spikes in demand.
What this means for patients is guarded optimism: with dedicated storage, smarter inventory management, and broader sourcing arrangements, Fiji could reduce recurrence of stockouts and improve care continuity. In the near term, the government’s focus on outpatient services, tighter coordination, and stronger procurement practices aims to stabilize supplies while preserving the gains already made in making medicines freely available at public facilities.
Additional context for readers: the situation has highlighted the importance of robust supply-chain infrastructure in remote areas, and the potential impact of external shocks on national health outcomes. If the reforms and new measures proceed as planned, Fiji could emerge with a more resilient procurement framework that better protects vulnerable populations and accelerates access to essential medicines.
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