Dr McCaig and NFP raise concerns about the state of health services

Retired Professor of Surgery Dr Eddie McCaig says availability of medication in this country is a disaster as almost 60 percent of what is on the essential drug list is not available but Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says this is unsubstantiated data and he will not give credence to it.

While speaking at the NGO Coalition on Human Rights Series of Panel Events for Fiji’s 50th Independence Anniversary, McCaig says recently the people of Korovou requested for a private pharmacy to be built in that area.

He says no one realizes it that they are asking for a private pharmacy because they do not get drugs in the hospitals.

McCaig says they have found out that 80 percent of our diabetics are poorly controlled because of the unavailability of drugs, laboratory testing and other reasons.

When asked by fijivillage, Dr Waqainabete says this is not true and has questioned where McCaig got his data from and who did the research.

MaCaig also claimed that the Lautoka Hospital is a disaster where the building is run down and the main operating theatre which was burnt down a few years back has not been fixed as yet.

Responding to these claims, Dr Waqainabete says this is also false and repairs have been done.

The Minister also says he finds it distasteful that in the throes of a pandemic where the health staff are working hard, McCaig is rubbishing their efforts.

Meanwhile, the National Federation Party is urging Dr Waqainabete not to dodge the critics and look for the best outcome.

Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad has questioned when will the Health Minister understand that it is not about dodging criticism but working with the critics to get the best outcomes for the people.

Prasad says McCaig is a doctor with decades of service to the country who spoke publicly about what many already know, that the Fiji health system is not fit for purpose.

He says McCaig is one of Fiji’s most senior doctors who has worked in Fiji hospitals for years and a wide network of doctors speak confidentially to him because they are too afraid to speak up against the Government.