Fiji has crossed the WHO minimum standard of 1 doctor to 1,000 of the population - Waqainabete

With the establishment of more than 800 doctors’ positions within the Ministry of Health, Fiji has crossed the World Health Organisation minimum standard of 1 doctor to 1,000 of the population.

This was revealed by the Minister for Health, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete while responding to NFP MP, Lenora Qereqeretabua who asked the Minister about the doctor patient ratio in public hospitals. 

Waqainabete stressed that this achievement can be credited to the implementation of the right amount of hours that is acceptable and safe for both the doctors and the community.

He also shared in parliament his experience as a medical practitioner working above and beyond hours to meet the demand of the public who needed to seek medical attention.

He says that the work corrected hours for doctors was only implemented because the Ministry now has sufficient number of doctors to cater for the surge in the number of patients in the acute clinical wards in all the health facilities.

Waqainabete also highlighted that a medical professional from as far as Scandinavia is working here today to apply for roles the Ministry has been unable to fill previously. He says Fiji now has competitive working conditions and salaries which has seen a growing number of former Fiji citizens who are specialists overseas returning and offering their expertise.

After being questioned by SODELPA MP, Salote Radrodro on what other challenges doctors in public hospitals are facing, Waqainabete revealed that two young doctors committed suicide last year. He says one of the doctors was serving in the public hospital in Makoi.

He adds that the reasons is as simple as the challenges they face and the Health Ministry is ensuring that doctors work the correct amount of hours and has encouraged people to also utilize medical services during off peak hours when there is a larger number of doctors on call.

Waqainabete highlighted that as of this month, the Health Ministry has recruited 19 medical officers, seven senior medical officers, three principal medical officers, three chief medical officers, and two consultants.