The lack of x-ray technicians in Fiji is becoming more apparent with revelations that Korovou Hospital has been without a technician for months as Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa says the shortage has reached a crisis point and he cannot say when the hospital will get one.
While raising the issue at the Fijian Media Association Town Hall Forum at Tailevu Hotel this evening, Church Minister Peni Saumi says when people go to Korovou Hospital for x-rays or pregnant women need scanning, staff advise them to travel to Nausori to access the service.
He says people from as far as Wainibuka and Dawasamu pay their fares to travel to Korovou Hospital, only to be told they must travel further to the Nausori Health Centre for x-ray services.
Saumi says this places an additional financial burden on people who are already paying for transport to reach Korovou Hospital.
He is questioning when Korovou Hospital will have an x-ray technician to address the difficulties currently faced by the community.
While responding, Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa admits that the shortage of radiology staff is a disaster for the Ministry and has been a challenge since the Coalition Government came into office.
He says the shortage of x-ray technicians is affecting health facilities across Fiji, including Levuka, and the 21 graduates who completed their studies last December are still undergoing their internship programme, which is expected to be completed by the middle of this year.
Ravunawa believes the Ministry will have sufficient staff by next year.
Ravunawa says under the previous TELS and Toppers scholarship schemes, university graduates could easily leave the country after completing their studies.
He says the Coalition Government has since introduced a bond system to help retain skilled workers in Fiji.
Ravunawa says training for radiology and laboratory technicians at the Fiji National University is accredited in Australia and New Zealand, meaning graduates can seek employment in those countries soon after completing their studies.
He says under the bond system, students who complete four years of training are required to serve Fiji for at least six years before they can leave, unless they repay the full cost of their bond.
Ravunawa says the Ministry of Health is also introducing a buffer system across its workforce to retain senior officers and strengthen staffing levels.
The Assistant Minister further says a new floor-mounted x-ray machine, supported by artificial intelligence, is also planned for Korovou Hospital.
Ravunawa says the machine is already in Suva but requires infrastructure upgrades, including a three-phase power supply, before it can be installed.
He says work is underway to improve the space and upgrade the electricity supply for the installation of the machine.
Opposition MP Premila Kumar also highlighted that the growth of private hospitals has contributed to staff shortages in the public health system.
She says private hospitals are attracting health workers from the public sector by offering better pay, adding that some workers are not migrating overseas but are instead moving into private practice.
