Govt denies delays in free medicine payments

Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Penioni Ravunawa has dismissed claims that doctors under the Free Medicine Scheme have not been paid.

He is calling Opposition statements “misleading” and “irresponsible”.

Mr Ravunawa was responding to allegations by Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry and Opposition Member of Parliament, Premila Kumar, that private doctors participating in the scheme have been unpaid since July.

According to the claims, some patients under the Government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) medical scheme were reportedly turned away from private clinics in Suva due to alleged delays in payments from the Government.

“The claim that doctors have not been paid under the Free Medicine Scheme is incorrect,” Mr Ravunawa said.

He said Government was billed for services provided privately, with all claims verified before payment to ensure accountability and transparency.

Mr Ravunawa also addressed claims about equipment failures at Savusavu and Labasa hospitals, noting contradictions in Opposition statements.

“In one post, the Labour Leader claimed the Savusavu Hospital X-ray machine had been down for 15 months, and 12 hours later claimed 18 months,” he said.

“Such contradictions show a reckless disregard for facts.”

On the Labasa Hospital CT scan, Mr Ravunawa said the Electricity Fiji Limited received the required transformer this week and the scanner would be operational once power upgrades were completed.

He invited Ms Kumar to provide factual data, including the number of affected patients and general practitioners (GPs) allegedly turning away clients.