121 new medical doctors are expected to complete their internship by July 2027, while another 121 new medical interns are expected to commence their internship in January 2027.
While responding to Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj’s question in Parliament, Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says the Government has a plan to recruit newly qualified medical doctors.
Dr Lalabalavu stresses that the Government has invested significantly in the education and training of medical students, and its responsibility thereafter is to ensure that the investment contributes to a stronger, sustainable and appropriately distributed medical workforce.
He says planning for both cohorts of new medical officers and new medical interns will arise as these doctors progress through their training and into the public health system.
He adds that the completion of internship is an important milestone, but not the end of the process.
INSERT: Dr Lalabalavu on medical doctors 21st Aug
Dr Lalabalavu says the Ministry is committed to ensuring that suitable qualified doctors are provided opportunities to enter the public health workforce where approved positions and identified service needs exist.
He says the Ministry continues to abide by the current plan in terms of transitioning medical students who have graduated and gone on to become medical interns, and those who have completed their internship and are transitioning to medical officers.
Maharaj also raised concerns about the mentorship requirement for doctors wanting to move from the public sector and open their own practice in the private sector, asking whether there was a plan to reduce the mentorship period by at least two to three years.
Dr Lalabalavu says the Ministry plans to review the the Medical and Dental Practitioner Act that governs the medical and dental professions.
He says provisions relating to the issue raised by Maharaj can be considered in the review, particularly if a process is hindering the transition from public to private practice.
Opposition MP Hem Chand then asked whether the recruitment of recently qualified medical doctors would address all vacancies in hospitals and health centres around Fiji.
Dr Lalabalavu says recruitment is based on the availability of space, positions that are budgeted for and vacancies.
He says currently 121 doctors will be employed, and that number means there is availability of space.
He says the Ministry is mindful that if it continues to produce more doctors while employment spaces decrease, it will have to relook at its planning strategy to ensure those coming out have employment opportunities within the Ministry.
Opposition MP Jone Usamate asked whether all 121 interns who graduate every year are eventually employed, and what happens to those who cannot be employed.
He also asked whether some could take up service in other countries and whether converting nursing stations to health centres could create positions for young doctors.
Dr Lalabalavu says the 121 figure refers to new medical doctors expected to complete their internship, while the number graduating can be more.
He says those who successfully complete the internship period in the two years progress smoothly to become medical officers, however, some of those who graduate may not progress immediately.
He says a few of those doctors have to re-sit and pass their respective blocks in which they have failed to ensure they have completed all the necessary requirements to become medical officers.
