FIJIANS can now have life and medical insurance deducted directly from their wages and salaries.
Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum last night announced that Government would amend the law which restricts employers from deducting more than 50 per cent of an employee’s wages and salaries for life and medical insurance.
He said because of that limitation, most Fijians were not insured.
“We want our people to be insured and save their money for the long term and keep them healthier, and it protects them from the debilitating financial mishaps.
“So we are going to amend the law and exclude direct deductions for life and medical insurance and medical schemes to the current 50 per cent restrictions,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
Also, kidney patients in the country can now breathe a sigh of relief as Government allocated $2 million to make seven dialysis machines available in the country.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum announced last night that there would be four machines available in a facility in Suva and three in Nadi.
He said the dialysis treatment would be at a cost of $150 per session for any kidney patient and for Fijians whose household income was below $30,000, Government would subsidise half the cost of treatment for this group of individuals.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the allocation for the subsidised cost was $3.5m.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services was allocated $382m in the 2018/2019 budget
