HEALTH Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete has described reports of doctors and medical professionals being rude and uncaring in their dealings with patients as “sad”.
In an interview, Dr Waqainabete said such behaviour was unethical, and he challenged medical practitioners to confront their colleagues if they noticed inappropriate behaviour in public hospitals.
He revealed that a weekly audit would be carried out to evaluate the work of doctors at public hospitals.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services last year received more than 2000 complaints from patients, with the majority of reports coming from CWM Hospital in Suva, Lautoka Hospital and Labasa Hospital.
Dr Waqainabete said the complaints ranged from poor communication, wrong diagnosis and attitude. He said this resulted in two or three doctors being disciplined through the Ministry of Civil Service.
