The Ministry of Health has reported a significant decrease in the resignation rates of healthcare professionals, a positive trend attributed to strategic workforce interventions initiated in 2023. During the opening of the 2025 parliamentary session, Health Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu announced that key measures such as raising the retirement age from 55 to 60, implementing wage increases for civil servants, and establishing retention allowances specifically for nursing staff have led to this encouraging shift.
In the previous fiscal year of 2022-2023, the Ministry faced a concerning rise in resignations, with 221 doctors and 982 nurses leaving their positions. However, the current fiscal year of 2024-2025 has seen a dramatic reduction, with only 39 doctors and 65 nurses resigning thus far, down from 48 doctors and 241 nurses in the prior period.
Dr. Lalabalavu expressed his optimism regarding these improvements, suggesting that the decrease in resignations could indicate a reversal in workforce mobility trends. Notably, many healthcare workers, particularly nurses, are beginning to return to the Ministry. He underscored that aligning human resources in health is crucial for transforming the primary health care approach, which remains a significant priority for the government.
This encouraging trend demonstrates that government interventions are starting to effectively stabilize the healthcare workforce in Fiji, creating a more sustainable environment for professionals committed to delivering quality care. It holds promise for enhanced service availability and improved community health outcomes in the future, marking a hopeful outlook for the region’s healthcare system.
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