A total of 43 complaints involving allegations of negligence, substandard care, unprofessional conduct, sexual misconduct and other breaches of professional standards have been lodged against medical and dental practitioners in Fiji since 2023.
The figures were revealed in a parliamentary response to Opposition Member of Parliament Premila Kumar, who questioned the Minister for Health and Medical Services on the nature and categories of complaints received by the Medical and Dental Secretariat.
According to the response, 33 complaints were recorded against medical practitioners, while another 10 involved dental practitioners between 2023 and 2026.
Substandard care accounted for the largest category, with 24 complaints recorded across both professions.
Of these, 16 involved medical practitioners and included allegations of clinical negligence, misdiagnosis and delays in treatment.
The number of medical complaints in this category increased from two in 2023 to four in 2024 and seven in 2025, with another three recorded so far in 2026.
A further eight complaints involving dental practitioners related to alleged substandard care, including dental negligence and delayed treatment.
Unprofessional conduct was the second-largest category, accounting for 14 complaints.
Of these, 13 involved medical practitioners and included alleged breaches of patient confidentiality, alteration of clinical records, misleading advertisements and fraud.
Six complaints were recorded in 2024, four in 2025 and three so far in 2026.
One complaint of unprofessional conduct involving a dental practitioner was recorded in 2023.
The Secretariat also received two complaints involving allegations of sexual misconduct, with one recorded against a medical practitioner in 2024 and another involving a dental practitioner in 2026.
Two additional complaints involved allegations of aiding or abetting unlicensed medical practice, with one case recorded in 2023 and another in 2026.
One complaint involving practitioner impairment was also recorded in 2023.
This category covers circumstances where a practitioner’s clinical performance may be compromised by alcohol, chemical substances or mental or physical incapacity.
No complaints were recorded under the office practice category, which includes failure to provide patient records or patient abandonment.
The annual figures show that seven complaints were received in 2023, followed by 13 in 2024 and 12 in 2025.
Another 11 complaints have been recorded so far in 2026.
The parliamentary response provides details of the allegations received by the Secretariat but does not establish whether the practitioners concerned were found guilty of negligence, misconduct or breaches of professional standards.
The figures highlight the range of patient care and professional conduct concerns brought before the regulatory body over the four-year period.
