The Ministry of Health has reported that there are 30 nurses for every 10,000 people, 12 doctors for every 10,000 people, and 2.56 dentists for every 10,000 people. This information was presented to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs during their review of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ annual reports for 2016-2021.
According to the ministry, the current ratio of nurses aligns with the medium standards set by the World Health Organization, which recommends 25 to 50 healthcare workers per 10,000 population. The Ministry of Health has plans to enhance these ratios by focusing on the recruitment and retention of more nurses and doctors.
By the end of 2024, around 400 additional nurses are expected to join the ministry, and 209 medical interns will also come onboard in 2024. The ministry has been asked to provide details on the strategies implemented to strengthen the healthcare workforce, including efforts in recruitment, retention, and professional development.
The ministry indicated that open advertisements are employed to create a pool of qualified candidates, facilitating the quick appointment of personnel for vacant positions. This approach has a validity period of one year for the merit pool. Additionally, the criteria requiring “Fijian citizenship” for certain roles have been removed. The ministry is also recruiting non-Fijian citizens to fill the shortage of skilled medical officers and to tackle the attrition rates among nurses.