THE Health Ministry has taken disciplinary action against 30 of its workers for inappropriate behaviour at work.
Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma said the inappropriate behaviour included employees not coming to work on time, work problems and attitude such as not having a good relationship with other staff members.
"The 30 employees are from all over Fiji where our hospitals are present," Dr Sharma said.
He said the disciplinary action was a clean-up exercise for nurses, doctors, drivers and cleaners and "no one is left behind".
"We need to have a disciplined health workforce," Dr Sharma said.
He said in the second quarter of this year they cautioned 12 officers, issued first warnings to five officers, terminated the services of nine staff members and four have been suspended pending investigations. "These are measures to improve citizen/customer satisfaction and improve health delivery by the ministry," Dr Sharma said.
He said with a workforce of over 3600 individuals, section heads at local and sub divisional levels were being empowered to work as a team and improve attitudes and behaviour.
Dr Sharma reiterated the government's commitment for better customer service in terms of available drugs and improved presentation by health officials. Dress code of health employees also needs to be addressed.