THE Health Ministry has justified the implementation of its new system that allows only a certain number of patients to be seen in the morning and the remaining patients after 2pm.
Ministry spokesman Iliesa Tora said the system, which had been adopted by many health centres around the country, aimed to prevent patients from waiting long hours at medical centres.
"Different health centres allow a different number of patients during the first session and advise the rest to return after 2pm," Mr Tora said.
"The staff at the health centres are aware of the population in their area and would decide on the limit that would best serve the public," Mr Tora said.
Those patients seen in the afternoon will be given their medication for that evening if they're at the clinic when pharmacies close.
"The patients can buy the required pills and tablets from the pharmacy the following day," Mr Tora said.
This system has been implemented to prevent patients spending the whole day at the hospital.Numbers are given to patients on a first-come first-serve basis.
