Renowned physician Dr John Fatiaki believes the Fijian people deserve a health system that provides them with the best possible care.
And that is one of the main reasons he will contest the 2022 General Election under the National Federation Party banner.
The former Rotuman senator has been heavily involved in issues involving his island home and believes he has the full support of his people going into the upcoming polls.
Being a doctor all his life, Dr Fatiaki has a fair understanding of the health system and the needs in Fiji.
He said those in the health system had a very challenging task in trying to deliver services and were trying to do their best with what they had.
“We will be blind and dishonest if we think our health system is good,” he said.
“I know that when I worked in the hospital 35 to 40 years ago CWM (Colonial War Memorial Hospital) was a better place, Lautoka Hospital was brand new in 1970 and that is 40 years ago, and it has only gone downhill from there.
“I don’t want to blame anybody but the reality is that we can’t leave those things to be like that always, I think our younger people and those who live in Fiji deserve better.”
Dr Faitaki said on a national level his contribution would be focused on re-looking and realigning the health system.
He said contesting under the NFP banner was a no-brainer.
“NFP historically has been there from the beginning, they have been continuously in the Opposition.
“This party really truly represents all ethnic groups and all religious groups.”
Dr Fatiaki is a medical practitioner and managing director of the Epworth Clinic and the Epworth Diagnostic Centre in central Suva.
He is one of seven children, born and raised on the beautiful island of Rotuma before travelling to Fiji at the age of six for further education.
He attended the Marist schools in Suva and went on to complete his secondary education at Natabua High School in Lautoka.
After a year at the University of the South Pacific, Dr Faitaki travelled on a Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan Award to study medicine in Australia and graduated as a doctor in 1984.
He served briefly in the government health services in Suva and Rotuma before establishing a private medical practice in central Suva in 1987 operating as the Epworth Clinic.
The clinic has been in continuous service for more than 30 years with an impeccable reputation for professionalism and excellence.
He is a keen educator and has been an honorary senior lecturer and external examiner at both medical schools in Fiji and was a Commissioner on the Fiji Higher Education Commission.
As a parent, Dr Fatiaki has been very actively involved in his children’s education and has served as a past president of the St Anne’s and St Joseph’s Secondary School’s Parents, Teachers and Friends Associations.
He is the former president of the Fiji College of General Practitioners and was honoured with a life membership of the Fiji Medical Association in 2016 and has served on many statutory, corporate and government boards throughout the years.
Residing alternately in Fiji and Rotuma, Dr Fatiaki has been very actively involved in Rotuman affairs over the past two decades as an advisor to the council of Rotuma.
He is a reserve army officer and a keen sporting shooter and is an inaugural and life member of the Fiji Shooting Association.
Trying his hand briefly at acting, he made his mark in Professor Vilsoni Hereniko’s highly acclaimed movie The Land Has Eyes as the main villain, and his love for nature and the outdoors has made him an avid fisherman, camper and hiker.
Dr Fatiaki is a practising Roman Catholic, is married to Sineva and has eight adult children and eight grandchildren.
Dr Fatiaki believes that it is time for a change and that new ideas and people are needed.
