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 matter was brought to attention by the Fiji Medical Association during its recent annual conference, where seasoned doctors expressed concerns about the imbalance between the high number of interns and the limited number of supervisors, along with inadequate clinical exposure.
During his address at the conference, Dr. Lalabalavu acknowledged the challenges posed by the surplus of medical interns. He noted, “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.”
To tackle this surplus, the Ministry is exploring various solutions and is optimistic that this situation could lead to new opportunities. Additionally, Dr. Lalabalavu mentioned that, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), they are conducting a comprehensive assessment of the entire ministry workforce.
“This assessment will help ensure that we have an adequate number of doctors, nurses, and allied health staff, which is crucial in mitigating burnout, a prevalent issue in many healthcare sectors,” he said.