It is important for us to understand what the needs of the people and the country are - Akbar

It is important for us to understand what the needs of the people and the country are for the enhancement of health facilities in Fiji.

While speaking at the 60th Annual Scientific Conference for the Fiji Medical Association at Pearl Resort, the Minister for Health, Rosy Akbar has urged doctors to lead the charge when it comes to enhancing the "patient experience" while accessing health care or interacting with health care providers.

The Health Minister also stressed that doctors should be at the forefront of quality improvement and quality service through consistent engagement and collaboration to uplift the health services.

She also challenged doctors, in their role as practitioners, educators and administrators to do more to advocate for non‑communicable diseases prevention particularly in their own communities.

Akbar also highlighted that government, through the Civil Service Reform, which sets out to modernize the civil service, has included the greater recognition of doctors higher pay packages.

She also brought to the forefront the great inroads being made in the medical sector through government’s continuous support as it has committed $355 million in the 2018/2019 Budget.