MoH to organize Workforce Planning Forum next Tues and Wed to address the gap in the health workforce

The Ministry of Health is organizing a Workforce Planning Forum next Tuesday and Wednesday with health training institutions in the country to look at strategies to address the gap in the health workforce in the country.

This has been highlighted by the Minister for Health Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, while officiating at the Fiji Medical Association Annual Scientific Conference at Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa in Denarau, Nadi.

He says the global shortage of healthcare workers continues to threaten the health workforce in Fiji, and many health workers have exited the public health sector to go abroad, as well as move into the private sector in Fiji.

Dr Lalabalavu says the Government has instituted a number of strategies that included raising the retirement age from 55 to 60 years, adjusting for salary anomalies amongst the different cadre, as well as approving salary increases across the civil service, including doctors and nurses.

He adds since December 2023, these measures have had a downward impact on the post-COVID high attrition rate of healthcare workers, and they hope that this trend will continue.

The Minister says the Government continues to support local and overseas postgraduate training for healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, and they hope to see more specialist doctors in the Ministry providing high-quality specialist services to the people.

Dr Lalabalavu says building a skilled and motivated workforce and ensuring they have the right people in the right place with the right skill set, is critical in delivering a high-quality health service to the people they serve.

He says the forum next Tuesday and Wednesday is important and is the start of a series of consultation forums.

He is encouraging the Association to be ready to participate and provide their expert input when invited into these consultation forums.

The Minister says these forums will harness their collaborative and inclusive effort to cultivate solutions that inspire action and lead to meaningful, long-lasting improvements in our healthcare system.

Fiji Medical Association President Dr. Bhasharat Munshi during his presentation highlighted that 15 medical officers have left the Ministry this year.

According to the statistics provided by Dr Munshi, 30 medical officers left the Ministry in 2020, 35 in 2021, 175 in 2022 and 104 in 2023.