There are no dedicated paramedic workforce within the Ministry of Health to respond to emergencies outside hospital settings.
This has been confirmed by Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu, amid growing public concern over emergency response times following a widely shared social media account alleging delays in ambulance services after a person reportedly died from a heart attack during a party at the Grand Pacific Hotel.
A writer on social media claims the man collapsed at around 8.50pm Saturday, with bystanders performing CPR for about 30 minutes while waiting for emergency assistance.
They allege they were initially told no ambulances were available, before the National Fire Authority responded to the call.
The post questions include why ambulances were later seen parked outside CWM Hospital, and raises concerns about staffing, response times and the availability of emergency personnel.
In response, Dr Lalabalavu says Fiji’s emergency response system differs significantly from those overseas, with no dedicated paramedic workforce to respond to emergencies outside hospital settings.
The Minister explained that ambulances stationed at hospitals are primarily used for patient transfers between facilities, rather than responding to emergency callouts in the community.
He says emergency cases outside hospitals are largely handled through outsourced services, including St John Ambulance Fiji, and the National Fire Authority Fiji, depending on availability.
The Minister acknowledged that many Fijians may assume emergency services operate similarly to those in other countries, but he says this is not the case locally due to the absence of specialised paramedics.
He adds that hospital Accident and Emergency teams are often fully occupied and can only respond externally if resources allow.
Dr Lalabalavu is urging the public to seek immediate help during emergencies and to administer basic first aid, such as CPR, where possible, while waiting for assistance.
