Archives 2016

The Fijian Government through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services will undertake new action plans to improve the public health care services in Fiji. This was highlighted by the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Rosy Akbar while speaking in the parliament today.

Minister Akbar outlined a number of initiatives that would be implemented to increase the health care accessibility. The initiatives highlighted included the Nurses Specialisation Program, arrangement of locum doctors, free medicine program and capacity building of medical expertise.

“The Ministry embarked on a nursing specialisation program over the past several years that sent our nurses overseas for attachments in specialised areas. These nurses have performed extremely well and have brought knowledge and expertise back to Fiji that they can pass on to their counterparts.

“We are working with the Ministry of Civil Service to develop the remuneration packages and structure that we need to recruit and retain top-talent,” Minister Akbar said.

The Health Ministry will also embark on new measures to reduce the long patient waiting queues in public hospitals.

“We have confirmed that there will be a pooling of locum doctors who can fill in during busy periods to help remedy the doctor shortages we face. That means shorter queues and more opportunities for Fijians to seek treatment when they need it.  A locum arrangement with Nadi Hospital is currently underway and others will start up around the country on the basis of need.

“The locum arrangement will bring in general practitioners to support our health sector in critical areas. It is an immediate fix to the service delivery issues that we face until we are able to staff our hospitals appropriately. Substantial resources are allocated towards recruiting doctors from overseas to fill gaps in both the clinical and public health arenas.

“We are currently working intimately with the Ministry of Civil Service to fill those gaps, so far have approved 879 new positions for medical superintendents, consultants, Chief, Principal and Senior Medical Officers and medical interns and assistants.

“So far we have filled 553 of those positions, and we will continue to seek qualified professionals for the remaining 326 spots. These new recruitment efforts come on top of the recent pay-rise ranging from 56 percent to 81 percent for our doctors, which has made major strides in increasing job security and satisfaction, it has given our doctors the professional recognition they deserve,” Minister Akbar elaborated.

In the new action plan, the Ministry will aspire to develop hospitals that provides clean environment and professional healthcare services delivered with a lot of compassion and empathy.  As of end of this month, a compiled a list of medicines will also be made freely available to eligible members of the public, through the Fijian Government’s Free Medicine Program.

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Free health checks with Smartlab Fiji at Fiji International

Last Wednesday, Ministers for Industry, Tourism and Trade, Youth and Sports, and Health and Medical Services showed their support for the health initiative and partnership of SmartLab Fiji and Fiji International on 14^th September 2016.

During the upcoming Fiji International golf tournament, Fiji International is teaming with SmartLab Fiji for the first time to offer free health checkups for bystanders and golfing participants in Natadola.

Former Health Minister, Hon. Jone Usamate mentioned the importance of sports for the nation. He also cautioned, “Although Fiji is world renowned for being leaders in rugby, which is a good thing, we are also world known for leading NCD’s, which still needs improvement.”

Mr Usamate stressed the critical role of regular health checks and knowing your health status.

Collaboration to continue between FNU and MOHMS

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Mr Philip Davies, addressed organisers and members of the FNU Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium (PIHRS) on 14^th September at Holiday Inn, Suva. This was Mr Davies’ first address in Fiji, and he was enthused by the diverse symposium.

“It is encouraging to see the balance of topics,” remarked Mr Davies to FNU’s researchers. “Local researchers are in a unique space to explore not only relevant health issues, but the contributing environmental and social factors,” he said.

Chief Guest, Professor Nii-K Plange, mentioned the two-day symposium an opportunity for robust health research to improve health care service and delivery, and improve university curriculum.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted the importance of accurate and timely research to strengthen knowledgeable policy-making and is looking forward to the partnership of the Health Ministry with colleges and institutions of medicine and science.

Mr Davies commended researchers and further encouraged them to publish their work.

Nurses discuss “Primary Health Care Nursing toward NCD Prevention” in Japan

Earlier this month, ten nurses from the Central Division attended a two-week training in Tokyo and Shiga Japan, facilitated by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

MoHMS nurses, health officials and JICA representatives met to debrief on the recent initiative “Primary Health Care Nursing towards NCD prevention”, where attendees shared their experiences and learnings with colleagues.

The training covered areas including evidence-based practice for NCD prevention and control at primary health care level; operational capacity strengthening at primary level; monitoring and evaluation capacity strengthening at divisional and sub-divisional level.

The nurses hope to share good practices and lessons learned from the training with health teams around the country, and also with other pacific island countries.

Divisional Health Sister Penina Vuniyasi said the team also learned a lot about nutrition, including serving sizes. “When we first arrived in Japan, we Fijians were taking one of every type of food. But the kitchen staff told us only to take one! Then we realized we should focus on the quality, not the quantity of the food”, she explained.

New water testing equipments will reduce communicable diseases

Water quality testing equipment presented to the Health Ministry.

Thanks to a donation of water testing equipment from the WHO and UNICEF, the Health Ministry will improve its capacity to monitor the quality of drinking water in Fiji.

The donation of 13 Potatest and 4 Potalab kits will greatly assist the Environmental Health Unit of the Health Ministry to conduct water quality monitoring.

Receiving the water testing equipment, the former Health Minister Hon. Jone Usamate explained why this equipment would be so useful, especially in rural areas.

“In Fiji, approximately 53% of rural populations drink water drawn from creeks and rivers and this initiative will be able to monitor and enable immediate response action by the Ministry to limit transmission of water borne diseases and subsequent loss of lives”, Mr Usamate said.

The equipment will be distributed to TC Winston-affected areas such as Rakiraki, Korovou, Vanuabalavu, Lomaiviti and Taveuni and later on to other rural communities in Fiji.

Hon. Usamate expressed his sincere gratitude to WHO and UNICEF for this initiative, which will make daily tasks such as hand-washing and preparing food easier and safer for many Fijians.

Meanwhile, the Fiji Centre for Communicable Disease Control at the Ministry of Health will continue to work with WHO and UNICEF in coordinating all water testing activities.