Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu has announced that his ministry is addressing the issue of an excess of medical interns in the country. This concern was raised by the Fiji Medical Association during its annual conference, where experienced doctors pointed out the disparity between the high number of interns and the limited number of supervisors and clinical exposure, which is problematic.
At the conference, Dr. Lalabalavu acknowledged the challenges posed by the surplus of medical interns, stating, “While we are fortunate to have a growing number of young, enthusiastic medical interns, the current structure is unable to fully absorb them, resulting in overcrowded rotations and limited learning opportunities.”
He emphasized that the Ministry is exploring solutions to manage this situation, indicating that opportunities will emerge from the abundance of interns. Furthermore, Dr. Lalabalavu mentioned that in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), they are conducting a comprehensive workforce assessment within the ministry.
“This will ensure that we work towards having the right number of doctors, nurses, and allied health staff, which will help reduce the burnout rates currently being experienced in many areas of health,” he added.