A total of 134 health professionals including doctors and consultants and 187 nurses were recruited over the course of 2018 according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

These numbers are likely to increase with more recruitments to be expected including the 99 medical interns who will start this month.

The ministry and the Ministry of Civil Service released the numbers on the recruitments and retirements for 2018.

The information given below includes details of developments in the health sector for 2018 and the upcoming health facilities expected to be realised in 2019.

Number of Nurses Recruited -187

Number of Retirees for this Year- 83

New Nursing Stations and hospital facilities completed

 Makoi Maternity Unit –Government Funded – opened in February, 2018

 Waimaro Nursing Station was damaged by TC Winston and rebuilt as Waimaro Health Centre (Level C) – funded by DFAT – opened in March, 2018

 Nasau Health Centre, Koro Island was damaged by TC Winston and rebuilt. The Health Centre has Maternal Child Health Clinic (MCH), Delivery room and Ante-natal and maternal health clinics – funded by DFAT– opened in September, 2018

 New Nakasi Health Centre (Level A) – Fiji Govt Funded – opened in November, 2018

 New Ba Hospital – Fiji Govt Funded – completed and Under PPP

Upcoming Facilities

 New Rotuma Hospital

 New Navosa Subdivisional Hospital

 Extension of CWMH Maternity Unit

 Major maintenance and upgrade to Nadi Subdivisional Hospital

 Major maintenance and upgrade to Nabouwalu Subdivisional Hospital

What were the major developments in the health sector this year?

 Plans for major renovations and upgrade of health facilities and quarters

 Introduction of the Government’s subsidy scheme on dialysis services. Under the Government subsidy scheme the kidney patients with a household income of less than $30,000 per annum will pay $75.00 per session and children below the age of 18 years will receive dialysis services for free. The Scheme was launched in October, 2018 at Northern Dialysis Centre. The scheme will also roll-out to the  Central and Western divisions

 Free Medicine Scheme – New Model.  Under the new model the Retail Pharmacies will now dispense medicines to eligible Free Medicine Program patients and the Ministry of Health & Medical Services will financially reimburse the respective pharmacies – to be effective from 2019

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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