A nurse from Wainunu in the Bua region of Vanua Levu has voiced concerns that village nurses feel overlooked by the healthcare system, struggling for months or even years without proper pay or formal contracts. Luisa Tinaimere expressed her dismay, stating that despite diligently serving their communities, many village nurses remain unpaid.
“We feel like we have been forgotten,” Tinaimere commented, illustrating her frustration with the current situation. She mentioned that not only has she received just two payments in 2023, but her last proper payment was in August of the previous year. Recently, she was surprised to find $1,600 deposited into her account but remains uncertain if this was a regular salary payment or merely a catch-up for back pay. Since then, however, no further payments have come through.
Tinaimere emphasized the financial burden faced by nurses, as many resort to using their own funds for expenses like fuel to reach patients in remote locations who require immediate medical care. “It’s disheartening to keep working without recognition or assurance of when we will be paid,” she lamented, highlighting the dedication that fuels their commitment to healthcare despite ongoing financial hardships.
Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa addressed Tinaimere’s concerns, stating that the ministry is handling these issues on an individual basis. He acknowledged that complications such as the replacement of village nurses by local councils may affect the timely submission of bank details for payments.
This predicament echoes broader issues within the Fiji healthcare system, where nurses have faced challenges in retention and timely compensation. As noted by Colleen Wilson, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, there is an ongoing call for increased funding to salaries as many nurses contemplate opportunities abroad due to better pay elsewhere. Efforts are being made by the government, which has allocated significant funding to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, in hopes of improving nurse retention and thereby enhancing overall healthcare delivery.
The ongoing dilemma not only highlights the plight of village nurses like Tinaimere but also reflects a larger systemic issue within the healthcare sector in Fiji, where many professionals are working tirelessly under challenging conditions for the well-being of their communities. There is hope that with increasing attention to these challenges, necessary reforms and improvements can be enacted, promoting a sustainable and stable healthcare environment for both workers and those they serve.