The Fiji Medical Association is appalled at the decision made to cease outpatient pharmacy services at the ASPEN Lautoka and Ba hospitals.
Association President, Doctor Alipate Vakamocea says they have also been reliably informed that there are additional services that will also be removed that will significantly negatively impact people seeking healthcare services at Aspen facilities.
He is calling for the halt of any directive to reduce services until a proper phased roll out has been planned with specific needs addressed.
Doctor Vakamocea is calling for a transparency audit and publicly clarify how the $117 million ASPEN budget funded by the taxpayers of the country is being utilized to justify service reductions.
He adds the Ministry of Health must ensure all pharmacies receive daily replenishment of essential medicines and publish real-time stock availability, and deploy ministry-led mobile clinics to high-demand areas if shortages arise.
Doctor Vakamocea says no policy should ever put the lives of Fijians at risk, and redirecting vulnerable patients to fragmented, under-resourced outlets during a budget increase is indefensible.
The FMA urges the government to step in now and consult frontline health workers to design a sustainable solution.
While they acknowledge the need for system improvements, Doctor Vakamocea says the decision to redirect patients to external facilities contradicts the government’s commitment to accessible healthcare.
They have also been reliably informed by the Fiji Pharmaceutical Society that it is very likely that the pharmacies on the free medicine scheme listed do not have the capacity to handle the new load that they will have to take on board for OPD and SOPD medicines.
Doctor Vakamocea says the increase to $117 million allocation from the National Budget to ASPEN suggests an intent to expand services, yet the circular effectively reduces direct access to medicines at key hospitals.
He says this raises urgent questions which include why are funds not translating to enhanced on-site care, and where is the financial investment being directed if not to maintain core services.
The FMA President says Lautoka Hospital’s Emergency Department and SOPD patients must now travel to Vidilo House for medications, or 3 other pharmacies listed under the Free Medicine Scheme (Lautoka).
He says many patients lack transport, funds, or mobility for additional travel.
He also highlights that Ba Hospital’s mobile dispensary may face capacity constraints during peak hours, risking long queues and treatment delays.
Doctor Vakamocea says rural and elderly patients will disproportionately suffer, potentially abandoning essential medications due to logistical barriers.
He stresses that the listed pharmacies under the Free Medicine Program cannot realistically meet the surge in demand as these pharmacies primarily serve local communities, not hospital-scale patient volumes.
Doctor Vakamocea says critical medicines like insulin and anti-hypertensives may be rapidly depleted, especially if these medicines are being supplied by the Fiji Pharmaceutical Services who already have issues with the supply of medicines to its own facilities.
He also says they are especially concerned for those on medicines like Warfarin, HIV medications, Cancer and Palliative care patients.
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