HEALTH Ministry permanent secretary Dr Jemesa Tudravu visited Aspen Medical Lautoka and Ba hospitals yesterday to assess services there following the ministry’s decision to stop medicine dispensary services for outpatient department patients from August 1.
Dr Tudravu told this newspaper he had an almost two-hour meeting and tour of Lautoka Hospital.
“This is because of the concerns that were raised with us,” he said.
“After these visits to Lautoka, Ba and nearby health centres, we’ll be able to give out more information.”
Questions sent to Aspen Medical on the meeting and the concession agreement between Healthcare (Fiji) Pte Ltd (trading as Aspen Medical Fiji) and the Government were referred to the ministry.
Earlier the ministry confirmed the new arrangement for outpatient department patients to procure prescribed medicine from selected locations between Rakiraki and Sigatoka was based on the concession agreement which outlined the concessionaire (Healthcare Fiji) was not responsible for providing outpatient medicine.
The ministry has come under fire for this decision from residents, the Fiji Medical Association and the Fiji Pharmaceutical Association calling for a better management of the vital service.
