The Ministry of Health is facing difficulties in recruiting qualified candidates for medical imaging technologist and pharmacist roles. Health Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu addressed Parliament, attributing these challenges to graduates’ preference for more lucrative job offers elsewhere. While there are currently no approved strategies for salary adjustments to remain competitive with private sector salaries, the Ministry is actively seeking alternative retention strategies to attract professionals in these critical areas.
Dr. Lalabalavu highlighted that the Ministry is reassessing the contributions of allied health professionals—including environmental health officers, medical imaging technologists, and pharmacists—to better align with increasing service demands and evolving healthcare needs. He noted recent positive developments, specifically a reduction in the staff attrition rate within the Ministry.
Despite the constraints in salary matching against private sector or overseas jobs, the Minister underscored the Ministry’s commitment to improving working conditions for passionate healthcare professionals. This is part of the government’s ongoing effort to enhance job satisfaction and retention, which is reflected in the recent trend of declining resignation rates among healthcare workers.
The proactive initiatives aimed at boosting workforce conditions, along with opportunities for career advancement through comprehensive training and specialization, suggest a promising future for Fiji’s health sector. With continued investment in healthcare professionals, the Ministry is striving to cultivate a more stable and efficient workforce, significantly improving the quality of medical services available to the community. The thoughtful measures being implemented underline a dedicated approach to fortifying Fiji’s healthcare system amid ongoing challenges.