The Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu, has voiced significant concerns regarding the ongoing exodus of healthcare workers from Fiji’s public sector. During his address at the Free Medical Association Annual Scientific Conference, he noted that the global shortage of healthcare professionals poses a challenge to Fiji’s health workforce.
In response to this issue, Dr. Lalabalavu outlined several government initiatives, including raising the retirement age from 55 to 60 years, rectifying salary discrepancies among various roles, and implementing salary increases for civil servants, including doctors and nurses. He highlighted that these measures, introduced in 2023, have already resulted in a decrease in the high attrition rates seen post-COVID, and the government is optimistic that this trend will persist.
The Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting both local and international postgraduate training for healthcare professionals, stressing the importance of building a skilled and motivated workforce to provide quality health services. He also mentioned the upcoming launch of the new National Development Plan, which will provide new guidance for Fiji’s development and align the Ministry’s strategies with this comprehensive framework.
Dr. Lalabalavu reiterated that improving health infrastructure has been a primary focus for the Coalition Government since it took office a year and a half ago. He affirmed the government’s commitment to addressing these healthcare challenges through collaboration, innovation, and decisive actions aimed at enhancing healthcare services across the country.