Nurses claim abuse of recruitment system at Health Ministry while MOH says they follow OMRS

The Fiji Nursing Association stresses that one of the main push factors for so many nurses that have left post COVID right into last year was the abuse of the Open Merit Recruitment System (OMRS) by the Health Ministry however the MOH says like other Ministries, they follow the OMRS to recruit its staff members.

The FNA is making an urgent call for an overhaul and a review of the Ministry of Health to get rid of all the incompetent people, and a demand is being made as part of mediation to have a thorough investigation into all the Open Merit Recruitment System appointments including the appointment of the current Chief Nurse.

Association President, Doctor Adi Alisi Vudiniabola says many of their members who left complained about alleged nepotism and the alleged tendency of the Head of HR and Chief Nurse to overrule the selection committee’s choice of best candidate for senior leadership positions in nursing.

They claim it has been going on for some time.

Vudiniabola says this has been a source of frustrations and dissatisfaction amongst the members and most of them just stand up and leave because they cannot bear to work under people who are unqualified, either they do not meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements and no experience at all.

She says the committee chairs have also shared their disappointment in the process as they themselves observe the abuse when their reports recommend an officer then find out that their best candidate has been sidelined and another person is given the position.

While responding to FNA’s concerns, the Ministry of Health says the two officers, Chief Nurse and Head of HR, do not sit in every recruitment panel and cannot overrule the decision of the panel which always includes independent members from outside the Ministry.

The MOH says the recruitment decisions are signed off by the Permanent Secretary and the Minister before the appointments are made.

It says this process ensures that only meritorious staff are appointed and any bias in the selection process are removed.

The Ministry adds there is also an appeal process that is handled by the Ministry of Civil Service which is available to all staff who are aggrieved by the outcome of the recruitment process.

It says any changes to the OMRS process will require the approval of the Ministry of Civil Services before they are implemented.