Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu reported that 80 percent of the 99 specialist medical positions in Fiji have been successfully filled. In a recent session of Parliament, he noted that despite this progress, 20 percent of these roles remain unoccupied, with the Chief Medical Officer positions experiencing the highest vacancy rate at 29 percent.
Dr. Lalabalavu emphasized that the primary challenge in filling these specialist roles stems from a shortage of qualified candidates, leading to vacancies being re-advertised. He shared that over the past five years, the recruitment landscape has notably improved; for instance, in 2021, only 52 percent of advertised specialist positions were filled within four months, resulting in 48 percent needing to be re-advertised. This situation has changed dramatically, as by 2025, 83 percent of positions were filled promptly, with the re-advertisement rate dropping to 17 percent, showcasing enhanced strategies and improved candidate availability.
The Ministry has allocated a budget of $82.4 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to ensure the payment of salaries for all field doctor positions while actively advertising and recruiting for all newly vacant specialist positions as they arise over the next year. This approach includes succession planning that allows for acting appointments, ensuring continuous service delivery while candidates complete their specialist registrations. Additionally, locum specialists are employed as needed, featuring a distribution of specialists across various fields, including internal medicine, anaesthesia, obstetrics and gynaecology, and more, with some areas like neurosurgery and psychiatry significantly underrepresented.
Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj expressed that the shortage of medical professionals is a critical issue impacting patients, many of whom seek treatment abroad in countries like India and Australia. He queried Dr. Lalabalavu on whether there are plans to engage doctors from China and India on bilateral terms to address the shortages. In response, the minister noted that they are actively working with development partners and have a budget to facilitate the arrival of visiting medical teams who can provide necessary services and help alleviate the backlog of cases requiring specialist care.
This proactive recruitment strategy reflects Fiji’s commitment to improving healthcare services and reducing patient outflow for treatment abroad, highlighting ongoing efforts to ensure that the population receives timely and adequate medical attention.