WORKFORCE PLANNING WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON HEALTH WORKFORCE CHALLENGES

“Achieving Universal Health Care and promoting Healthy Islands across the nation rests on our ability to build and maintain a motivated and competent health workforce.”

Public Service Commission Chairman Luke Rokovada highlighted this while officiating at the two-day National Health for Human Resources Strategic Workforce Planning Workshop Program currently underway in Pacific Harbour. 

Rokovada revealed that the Ministry of Health is dealing with a host of workforce challenges that have pressured its labour force, ultimately affecting healthcare delivery in the country.

“The health workforce in Fiji is dealing with high vacancy rates, skill imbalance, outward migration, burnout, minimal productivity and evolving workforce demographics amongst others,” Chairman Rokovada stated.

Latest statistics from the Ministry's data base indicate that the existing health workforce is 84% against the total approved of established positions of 4345 and 54% against the national target of 5175 outlined in the MoHMS Workforce Projection Report 2014-2024.

This indicates that 16% of the approved established positions are vacant and the gap against the national target is 46%.

“These numbers tell a worrying story of the status of the health workforce and explains the challenges we are now facing. Challenges that have a direct impact on the life and well-being of our citizens,” Rokovada said.

PSC Chairman revealed that he is concerned with the proliferation of nurse training institution in the country many of which do not consult the Ministry of Health prior to opening for business.

“There is an inherent risk of the quality and competency of Nurses being compromised if nurse training institutions do not work closely with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services,” Rokovada adds.

“As nurse training in Fiji is competency-based and involves clinical training in the main hospitals—namely, CWM Hospital, Labasa Hospital, and Lautoka Hospital—it is crucial to obtain the approval of the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services, as these major hospitals fall under his jurisdiction.”

The Chairman adds that the Ministry of Health and Medical Services should have a clear policy on the training of various categories of nursing care, such as Enrolled Nurses, Nurse Aids, Nursing Practitioners, Theatre Nurses, Oncology Nurses, Specialist Midwifery Nurses, Psychiatric Nurses and other specialized nursing roles.

“These Nurse Aids will do more than just help close or fill in the void left by those nurses who have moved on to other professions or migrated. The assistance by these nurse aids will allow nurses to focus on other specialty category of nursing like oncology and theatre. As time progresses these nurses will become more specialized in these areas therefore closing the skills imbalance,” Chairman Rokovada adds.

Meanwhile the two-day workshop provides an opportunity for health workforce stakeholders to dialogue, strategize and draft a 10-year National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Strategic Plan for Fiji to elevate public health care service for all Fijians.

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