Health Ministry faces difficulties in recruiting health professionals

The Health Ministry is facing difficulties in recruiting dental hygienists, medical imaging technologists, and pharmacists.



Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu revealed this in Parliament while responding to a question on the retention incentives that the Ministry has in place for health professionals.



He says in the last two years much focus has been placed on efforts to retain nurses and reduce the repatriation that occurred in 2021–2022, and this has been successfully achieved.



Dr. Lalabalavu says they are facing difficulties in recruiting dental hygienists due to a lack of interested applicants, as the training institution no longer offers a specific diploma programme but now provides a degree in oral health instead.


He says this is likely why many students choose to pursue dental therapy, as it has a higher band grade than dental hygiene.



He adds that the Ministry is also struggling to attract qualified applicants for positions as medical imaging technologists and pharmacists, as graduates are opting for better offers from other organisations.



Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj says one of the problems the Health Ministry faces is the lack of director-level or senior manager positions.



He says at the principal level, there is usually someone above the age of 50, while the majority of the workforce is between the ages of 20 and 30.



Maharaj questioned whether the Ministry has any plans to create director-level and manager-level positions within this cadre so that allied health workers can progress from senior technician roles into these levels before being promoted to the principal level.



Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu responded that they are currently developing the National Health Workforce Strategic Plan for 2025–2034, which will provide guidance on some of the recommendations mentioned.



He says the Ministry is already working on realigning certain positions to the director level to create incentives for staff to remain with the Ministry, ensuring they have a clear career pathway leading up to the Permanent Secretary level.