The Fijian government, under the leadership of Minister for Health Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, is actively implementing a range of strategies aimed at drawing in and retaining healthcare professionals beyond the nursing sector. This initiative emerges following a significant wave of resignations, especially among nurses, which reached a peak in 2021. Currently, the emphasis is on elevating the working conditions for medical officers, dental officers, laboratory scientists, and other medical roles.
To fortify employee retention, the government is providing numerous incentives, such as elevating the retirement age, executing consecutive pay raises over a two-year period, re-engaging retired professionals, and offering training and capacity-building opportunities both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, overseas attachments through collaborative agencies are a component of these strategic initiatives.
Dr. Lalabalavu highlighted that medical officers enjoy a distinct salary structure and are entitled to rural and remote allowances, while dental officers receive on-call allowances. Despite these measures, the recruitment of specialists remains challenging as competitive offers from abroad continue to entice graduates. Moreover, the shift in training institutions from diploma to degree programs has shifted more graduates towards becoming dental hygienists rather than dental therapists.
To address these issues, a National Health Workforce Strategic Plan for 2024-2034 is in development to strategically address human resource needs over the next decade. This plan will guide policies on career advancement, including the establishment of managerial and director-level positions, a recommendation pushed by Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj, to enable younger allied health professionals to ascend into leadership roles.
In parliamentary discussions, Dr. Lalabalavu confirmed that overtime payments are being made to medical laboratory scientists, assuring that any discrepancies will be resolved promptly.
The overarching strategy of the government is to build a skilled and motivated workforce, equipped to deliver exceptional healthcare services. Enhanced career development pathways and the incentivization of specialized roles within the healthcare sector are essential to these efforts, as emphasized in a series of discussions with the Fiji Medical Association and other stakeholders.