Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu has announced that his ministry is actively addressing the issue of an excess number of medical interns in the country. This concern was brought to light during the Fiji Medical Association’s annual conference, where veteran doctors noted the disparity between the high number of interns and the limited number of supervisors, along with insufficient clinical exposure.
During his address at the conference, Dr. Lalabalavu acknowledged the challenge of managing this surplus of medical interns. “While we are fortunate to have a growing number of young, enthusiastic medical interns, the current structure is unable to fully absorb them, leading to overcrowded rotations and restricted learning opportunities,” he stated.
The Minister emphasized that the Ministry is exploring various solutions to tackle the surplus and create new opportunities stemming from this situation. Additionally, he mentioned that in collaboration with the World Health Organization, a comprehensive workforce assessment is being conducted across the ministry.
“This assessment will ensure that we have the appropriate number of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, which will be crucial in reducing the burnout rates currently faced in various health sectors,” Dr. Lalabalavu concluded.