The year 2022 marks an important year with elections in the Fiji Islands.
The Government of the day is reaching out to the public to listen to the concerns of the community as part of budget process.
The 2022 budget is important to revive the economy after more than two years of economic downturn.
The Attorney-General’s visit to various communities provides hope to ordinary citizens and businesses.
There is no doubt that the A-G, who is regarded as the most powerful figure in FijiFirst Government, is listening to people.
People who are following the community consultation discussions are well informed through social media channels on questions and government response.
The key themes and frustration coming out of the discussions include deteriorating medical and health services; poor law and order, job security and wages, environmental issues, and rising cost of living to accommodate necessities.
The FijiFirst Government has been in power for 14 years.
Many citizens are aware that the government has implemented reforms that have benefited people of all backgrounds.
However, the issues raised, and the frustration people have expressed in the consultation are no surprise.
Perhaps the nature of the issues comes as a surprise to the A-G given these issues are raised in towns rather than regional communities.
The frustration and anger are to an extent where the public has named organisations, government departments and individuals who are not accountable for their actions.
People across the country have lost faith with public hospitals and educated medical and allied health professionals.
Businesses have total lack of trust with police and law makers.
Employees have not witnessed salary increase in companies who are generating millions of dollars in profit.
The A-G in many instances agrees that a lot needs to be done.
In some instances, he has apologised to the individuals who have experienced difficulties.
The most recurring theme coming out includes issues related to quality of service at public hospitals.
People in public health system know that our hospitals have adequate resources and equipment compared to other countries with comparable population.
The government has for many years allocated more money for public health.
The FijiFirst Government increased the salary of doctors by more than 50 per cent.
Until 2021, more citizens had access to university courses in medicine although most people who go into medical courses are from high socio-economic backgrounds with low number of iTaukei citizens.
The A-G in his response to public consultations in Viti Levu quite rightly pointed that cultural change and shift in attitude is needed with medical and health professionals.
If our hospital system has adequate resourcing and people are rewarded with high salary, then the public rightly expects fit-for-purpose service across the country.
Doctors not attending to patients despite being on duty, 1.5-hour time taken in changing shifts, staff members taking break without backup, and unfriendly approach in engaging with the public would worry many citizens.
While the A-G made comments about work culture in public hospitals, I would argue that culture, vision, and ethics for public health service are determined and led by the minister and his senior management team.
The minister in past has defended the service provided by the public hospitals.
Many of these issues are also reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions Office by the public, however, those voices are not heard.
There is tendency to be complacent rather than addressing the issues which have been raised repeatedly for many
years.
We need to ensure that people in position of trust are accountable to deliver better outcomes.
The Prime Minister and A-G will only look good if their Cabinet ministers are delivering results.
I have in the past, raised concern about poor health and medical services.
I have also raised concern about the quality and tandard of medical courses offered at Fiji National University (FNU).
A report on Fiji Islands Health System Review in 2011 outlined that the last curriculum review of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the FNU was undertaken in 2000.
If no external review is undertaken after 2000, then we have 21-year-old curriculum taught to train doctors.
We have doctors doing six-years degree in medicine who are unable to perform simple medical procedures.
We have lack of qualified people in medical schools who are teaching medical students.
Only few have master’s qualification, let alone PhD-qualified research-active academics.
How can bachelor and master’s level academics bring new knowledge to life if they are not engaged in research and
discovery?
These public consultations in the election year is too late to fx the issues.
The government can only allocate budget and make promises that may or may not transpire.
If our leaders are complacent in relation to services provided by the ministry, then we will not be able to bring cultural change in hospitals where professionals deliver their oath in an ethical manner.
MAHSOOD SHAH is a Professor and Dean of Swinburne University of Technology, Sydney campus. The views expressed in this article are the author’s and do not refl ect the views of his employer or this newspaper.
