Up to 60 medical lab scientists in Fiji are currently experiencing significant delays in receiving their overdue overtime payments, despite making numerous appeals to the Ministry of Health. Earlier this month, Health Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu urged these professionals to report their unpaid dues, assuring them that arrangements would be established to address the issue. However, Jignesh Sharma, president of the Fiji Institute of Medical Laboratory Science, has reported that no concrete measures have been taken.
Sharma has noted that multiple emails were directed at the Health Minister, Assistant Minister, and the permanent secretary, but unfortunately, none have produced any acknowledgment or resolution. “We’ve followed up with the relevant authorities regarding the overtime pay for our members, yet there has been no payment made,” Dr. Sharma stated, expressing his disappointment over the lack of communication on this urgent matter.
This dilemma underscores the ongoing challenges within Fiji’s healthcare system, particularly in terms of staffing and fair remuneration for key healthcare roles. The Fiji Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences had previously emphasized the necessity for long-term strategies to remedy staffing shortages and to guarantee overtime compensation for health workers, especially those in Band F positions within the Ministry of Health. While recent announcements revealed a temporary approval for overtime payments starting from November 2024 for a duration of six months, Sharma and the institute are advocating for a more lasting solution to address the ongoing staffing difficulties faced by laboratories.
Sharma warned that without permanent resolutions to the staffing and payment challenges, the stability of the healthcare system may be jeopardized, adversely affecting both healthcare professionals and the communities reliant on their services. The importance of consistent communication and cooperative problem-solving cannot be overstated at this critical juncture.
As the situation evolves, there remains optimism that the Ministry of Health will constructively engage with the concerns raised by laboratory scientists, fostering improved conditions that will ensure fair compensation and adequate staffing within Fiji’s medical laboratories in the future.