A PATIENT satisfaction survey is among initiatives introduced this year to help usher in reduced waiting times in hospitals.

National adviser for non-communicable diseases Dr Isimeli Tukana in an interview yesterday said reducing the waiting time remains their biggest challenge.

“We receive the most complaints on the waiting time at the major hospitals,” he said.

With four major hospitals in Fiji, Dr Tukana said members of the public can expect an improved system gradually introduced.

“We have a triage system picks out immediate cases that need attending to. The public must understand that we are not a supermarket where people just come in and expect to get treated. A triage service tells us which cases need immediate treatment.”

Minister for Health and Medical Services Jone Usamate in an interview last week said they work work on decentralisation of outpatient services to health centres to address the long waiting time .

Permanent secretary for the Ministry of Health Dr Meciusela Tuicakau last week confirmed the decentralisation of services would be rolled out in the Northern and Western divisions this year where all health centres will be open from 8am to 10pm on weekdays.

Harris Shankar from Samabula North was at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital yesterday and said a lesser waiting time would be a good thing.

Mr Shankar brought his wife, who was referred from the Samabula Health Centre as a diabetic and kidney patient.

He said they arrived at the CWM Hospital at midday and two hours later were still waiting to be served.

“We had a written appointment from the health centre and yet I feel the service is still slow, although a new service would be much appreciated. Guess we will have to wait and see if the waiting time will improve.”