A MOTION to approve a bipartisan committee to conduct an inquiry into the public health system by government and help improve the delivery of health care in the country was defeated in Parliament yesterday.
The motion was moved by National Federation Party leader and Opposition MP Professor Biman Prasad.
Moving his motion, Prof Prasad said the sad but unmistakable reality was that there was a serious deterioration of Fiji’s health services and medical care.
“Our extremely poor health service is blight on our nation. There is no other way to put it. Go to any hospital in the country and you will see the pathetic conditions,” Prof Prasad claimed.
In response, Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar said the motion had no merit.
Ms Akbar said the ministry had already invested in developing a national health strategic plan, and reviewed the public health and medical services plan through collaboration with stakeholders.
She said the 2017/2018 National Budget provided funding for an additional 150 doctors and 200 nurses which would greatly improve the doctor and nurse population ratios.
“With all this review we have engaged in a paradigm shift to nursing specialisation where we have identified 412 specialist positions out of the 800 nursing specialist positions in the current budget,” Ms Akbar said.
She added these were the results of the ongoing reviews and plans the ministry had with its stakeholders and development partners to enhance the accessibility and affordability of health services.
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said there was a need for people to be responsible in their analysis and assessment and at the same time be honest.
“A lot of things can be improved and the fact is we all have to recognise that. We also at the same time have to recognise what are the strengths and what are the weaknesses in order to be able to have some intellectual debate and some consorted effort,” he said.
“We need to be responsible in our analysis and assessments, we need to be honest about it.
“The other thing that I would want to speak about also is the number of doctors and nurses within the system.
“And I agree with the Minister for Health, many doctors, many nurses are doing their uttermost notwithstanding the fact that there has been enormous lack of investment in the personnel for decades.”
The motion was defeated.
