Corrections fire Medical Officer, FMA calls for investigation

The Fiji Medical Association (FMA) has raised serious concerns regarding the recent termination of a senior medical officer (SMO) at the Fiji Corrections Service.

In a statement on Friday, FMA president Dr Alipate Vakamocea highlighted what the association believes to be ethical issues surrounding the dismissal, as well as potential violations of the doctor’s rights.

According to the FMA, the doctor, who had been employed as an SMO at FCS in Suva, was dismissed by the Commissioner of Corrections, Jalesi Nakarawa without cause on the same day he conducted an orientation for new medical staff members. The FMA said the new staff members included the wife of the Commissioner, Loma Nakarawa.

Ms Nakarawa was appointed as a nurse practitioner in the department. The incident began on January 20, when the doctor met senior corrections officer, Alevio Turaga, and Mr Nakarawa, to address a racist email allegedly sent by Mr Turaga to the doctor.

The FMA said the email was described as a direct violation of the doctor’s human rights, particularly regarding the right to equality, dignity, and a safe workplace.

Mr Turaga questioned why the doctor did not make his rounds checking the inmates as he was expected to do so. Mr Turaga, in the same email said ‘stop doing the kaidia style.’

FCS Commissioner responds
FCS Commissioner, while responding to the claims, said the medical officer was terminated as he was not performing.

“That is a contractual issue, we terminated his contract,” Mr Nakarawa said. “His contract was terminated – it’s in the contract. He was not performing. It is a simple employment issue. He can go to the employment court if he wants to challenge it. It is part of the contract that he signed.”

Mr Nakarawa said the doctor has been in the service for five years, and has not been performing. “He has not been there when he is needed. I can’t go on with that. The nurses have complained about him too.”

When asked if his wife, who is now a nurse practitioner in the service, was a complainant of the doctor, Mr Nakarawa denied any connection to his wife’s appointment. “People are trying to link these issues, but there is no link at all.”
 

Racial discriminatory email
Mr Nakarawa said before he (doctor) was terminated there was an issue, a senior officer had told him stop doing the ‘kaidia’ style in an email.

“I called both of them to the office and told them that both of them will be disciplined for those remarks. I called them both and I assured the doctor that the officer will be disciplined. He will be, he is a senior officer that needs to be showing good example. Next week an assistant commissioner is going down to the senior officer in Lautoka for the hearing.

“I am not condoning the comments he made. He has apologised to the doctor, but the disciplinary issues will still go on.”

The Fiji Medical Association has outlined several concerns, including:

• Violation of the doctor’s human rights and the termination of his contract following the meeting regarding the racist email.
• Conflict of interest due to the Commissioner appointing his wife, Loma Nakarawa, as a nurse practitioner.
• The timing of the dismissal, which took place on the same day the orientation was held.
• The appropriateness of Mrs Nakarawa working as a senior medical officer, given her qualifications as a nurse practitioner, a role outside the scope of medical practice.

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