There is an alarming number of graduates from Pacific institutions including Fiji who do not return to serve their home islands.

Fiji National University Dean of College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Professor Ian Rouse said this did not ease the need for more resources because of lack of trained professionals.

“It has been a problem we have faced in the Pacific. In the South Pacific, there are many graduates from the Fiji College of Medicine over the 30 years, have ended up working in Australia, New Zealand, America and Canada,” Professor Rouse said.

“The greener pastures may not be green as it seems in other places. Fiji has fantastic opportunities and it is great place with opportunities to live and work.”

Professor Rouse said there was a need to create a work environment in the health sector for those and their families in Fiji.

“In the North Pacific there has been a big challenge in Honolulu or US as never return to work in the Marshall Islands or Palau they stay in America and it is a problem.”

However, Professor Rouse said graduates from regional institutions feel well accepted in overseas employment sectors.

“We do have qualification which is world recognised and we produce graduates that are very good which can pass the entry criteria to work in other country. Somehow we have to encourage to work and play here in the blue continent,” he said.

The three-day meeting Towards Health Professional Education (HPE) Collaboration in the Pacific was funded by FNU and Australian Aid at The Westin, Nadi, ended yesterday.

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