Rural ministry seeks seat at public health table

The Ministry of Rural, Maritime and National Disaster Management has asked Parliament to include its network of provincial and divisional offices in the coordination mechanisms being proposed under the Public Health Amendment Bill No. 4 of 2026.

The Ministry says this move will strengthen health service delivery to rural and maritime communities across Fiji.

Acting Deputy Secretary Josefo Navuku made the request before the Standing Committee on Social Affairs yesterday, saying the ministry's reach through 14 provincial offices, District Advisory Councils, Bose ni Tikina and Bose ni Yasana forums, made it a natural partner in any national public health coordination structure.

"We kindly suggest that consideration be given for RAP to be also part of the coordination mechanisms that may be proposed in the Public Health Amendment Bill – at both the national and sub-national level," Mr Navuku told the committee.

Mr Navuku also asked that the bill be aligned with the National Disaster Risk Management Act 2024, which governs responses to both natural and national disasters.

He said lessons from COVID-19 had exposed gaps in how health emergencies were managed at the divisional level.

National WASH coordinator Toga Vosataki, from the Ministry of Health, confirmed those gaps, saying COVID-19 revealed that Divisional Commissioners lacked the powers to mobilise resources for health emergencies the way they could for natural disasters.

Acting Chief Health Inspector Luke Vonotabua told the committee that new proposals already recommended provincial administrators, Roko Tuis, and District Advisory Council chairs as members of local health authorities – addressing some of the rural ministry's coordination concerns.

Mr Navuku said his ministry's full written submission would be provided within two weeks, drawing on input from all four Divisional Commissioners and 14 provincial offices.

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