Usamate urges govt to focus on improving health sector and not complain

Opposition MP Jone Usamate says the government should stop complaining about the health sector, focus on what has been done, identify the flaws of the previous government, and work to improve them.

While responding to questions on the current state of the health sector, where hospitals still face shortages of beds, the CWM maternity hospital extension is delayed, and there is a lack of medicine and basic equipment due to dilapidated infrastructure and past neglect, Usamate says the government came in promising these issues would be fixed suddenly, but they still remain.

Usamate says there are no quick fixes as it is something that has to be done systematically.

He says it is very difficult to meet everyone’s requirements all the time.

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Usamate urges govt to focus on improving health sector and not complain #fiji #fyp

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When questioned about how he will address ongoing shortages of beds, medicine, and basic equipment as they are setting up their party, Usamate stresses it is not a quick fix but the Australian government has been supporting the health sector in getting systems and processes right.

Usamate says addressing health sector challenges requires strong systems and processes, good plans, and right people recruited on merit.

While responding to criticism that ministers often seek treatment overseas while ordinary Fijians face shortages in hospitals and if he considers this a failure of leadership and planning, Usamate says as many Fijians as possible should have access to specialized tertiary healthcare in Fiji at low cost, which is what facilities like Aspen is supposed to provide.

He says on the other hand, if people have the resources, they have liberty to go overseas.

Usamate says, however, that local people who do not have the resources cannot access these services, so there is a need for a phased plan to improve the whole sector.