TWO retired radiologists are contracted by the Health Ministry on an annual basis because of a shortage.
Ministry deputy secretary hospital services Dr Eloni Tora said the ministry had discussed with the Fiji School of Medicine to train radiologists as the course was only offered overseas. Dr Tora said they were also negotiating with institutions abroad to train aspiring radiologists.
The country has only four radiologists two with the Ministry of Health and two in the private sector.
Dr Tora said there were five radiology registrars apart from the two consultants Dr Paula Nakabea of Colonial War Memorial Hospital and Dr Jagdishwar Raj, .
"These registrars are qualified doctors who, although have not got their qualifications, can do the work," he said.
He said it was imperative that they improve services because of the importance of radiology in the field of medicine.
"We will post doctors who are interested in radiology from next year," he said.
Dr Nakabea said there was a need to have more radiologists in this country.
Dr Nakabea said that he studied in Wellington while Dr Raj studied in Auckland.
He believes registrars should be given the opportunity to further studies to become fully fledged radiologists.
Aspiring radiologist and senior radiology registrar at Lautoka Hospital Dr Avaiata Ketenilagi said that he needed to go for overseas training in order to specialise in that field.
Dr Ketenilagi said he joined that department in 2001 after he became a doctor in 1999.
"I have been here at the radiology department in Lautoka for eight years and I am planning to further studies next year."
Dr Ketenilagi said he was interested to be a radiologist because he saw all kinds of cases in the medical, surgical, obstetrics and gynaecology and pediatrics aspects of the field.
