Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete has today objected to allegations that the reason that many nurses are resigning is because of work stress calling it false and unfounded.
The claims were made by the Coordinator of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, Shamima Ali as Ali says the Minister needs to address the issues facing the health system and have a look at the real reasons why 300 nurses were leaving the profession and some of the reasons for resignation were stress, fatigue, not being able to take leave and not being compensated for the work that they are doing.
Ali also claimed that the concerns and the needs of the nurses are never heard.
She further says nurses resigning were not criticizing the ministry or the government out of fear of victimization in the reference process in new jobs.
While responding to the claims, Dr Waqainabete says a quick review of the resignation data shows that from 2018 to 2021, the total number of nurses who exited the ministry were 437, and 284 were resignations adding the main reasons for resignation was migration and pursuing job opportunities abroad.
He says these are the reasons that are highlighted in the resignation letter.
The Minister also highlighted that they have exit interviews where the nurses who have resigned can raise issues with them.
He says in the same period, the Ministry recruited 678 nurses.
Dr Waqainabete adds the ministry makes every effort to address the concerns as best as they can.
The Health Minister says the suggestion that an industrial action such as a strike as the means to negotiate better working conditions is shameful and uncalled for.
He adds the government has processes of allowing its staff to dialogue rather than taking drastic actions that would put the lives of Fijians who are in the public health system at risk.
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