The United Nations Special Rapporteur for Health in the Pacific, Dainius Puras says Fiji has good opportunities and strong political will to realise the right to health but achieving this goal will depend as much on addressing violence, discrimination and inequalities as on investments in its health care system.
The UN Special Rapporteur has also commended the Fijian government for its good management of the measles outbreak.
Puras says Fiji has invested in all the main elements of health care through the modernized outpatient and hospital care, invested in infrastructure and increased salaries for medical doctors.
He says it is important to continue investing in a sustainable health care system with a focus on primary care but it is equally essential to seriously address the major determinants of health such as violence, discrimination and inequalities that threatens the effective realization of people’s rights to health.
Puras says Fiji should also make full use of its existing legislation and policies to combat violence against women and other vulnerable groups.
He says community based rehabilitation services should also be developed to support people with psycho-social, intellectual and cognitive disabilities.
He says this needs measures that are adequately supported with resources and that are in line with a human rights based approach and based on specific evidence.
