The healthcare system in Fiji is reportedly experiencing significant deterioration, despite an increase in budget allocations, according to Opposition MP Premila Kumar. During a parliamentary debate regarding the Consolidated Review Report of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services from 2016 to 2021, Kumar enumerated various challenges plaguing the healthcare sector, including staffing shortages, underutilised funds, and inadequate governmental prioritization of healthcare needs.
Kumar emphasized the troubling reality that newly graduated nurses are facing employment delays of up to six months and current staff members are overstretched. She pointed out the acute shortage of midwives, with only 200 available for 300,000 women of childbearing age, and noted that last year alone saw the migration of 500 midwives. Although 50 new midwives are trained annually through Australian sponsorship, there is no requirement for them to remain in Fiji, compounding the issue. Kumar criticized this as a significant failure in healthcare planning that adversely affects women’s health.
In addition to staffing concerns, Kumar remarked on the underutilisation of the 2023-2024 health budget. She highlighted that a large portion of the allocated funds for staff quarters and facility upgrades went unspent, raising questions about efficiency in resource management. Furthermore, she addressed the mental health sector, asserting that the budget for St Giles Psychiatric Hospital had been reduced even as mental health issues grow increasingly critical.
In response, Minister for Finance Biman Prasad defended the government, suggesting that Kumar and her colleagues were ignoring the challenges their former administration faced. Prasad underscored the improvements in health budget allocations and stated that the current budget, amounting to approximately $580 million, is close to the World Health Organisation’s recommended level.
Despite the current issues in the health sector, the government has expressed its commitment to transparency and is looking to conduct a comprehensive review to address these challenges. This review could pave the way for better resource allocation and healthcare strategies moving forward.
In a hopeful turn, the ongoing dialogue between government officials and opposition members may foster a collaborative effort to improve the healthcare system in Fiji. As debates continue, there is potential for constructive reforms that can positively impact healthcare access and quality for all citizens.
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