A CONCERNED father and husband claims the Fiji National Provident Fund’s medical withdrawal policy discriminates against women and mothers.
Rupeni Vatubuli had requested FNPF assistance when his wife underwent an emergency caesarean section at a private hospital but his request was declined.
“I applied for a medical withdrawal from my FNPF general account after my wife was rushed to an emergency C-section at Oceania Hospital two weeks ago, due to dangerously high blood pressure,” Mr Vatubuli said.
The procedure, the doctors suggested, was the only safe option for both mother and child.
Mr Vatubuli claimed the staff and manager at the FNPF Plaza in Suva had told him the operation was “not covered through our policy, only Colonial War Memorial Hospital is covered through FNPF”.
“I was shocked and disappointed when informed that maternity cases were not covered under the fund’s medical withdrawal scheme.
“This is my own FNPF general account savings.
“This is discrimination towards women and mothers.
“They cannot get the best healthcare from a private hospital because FNPF doesn’t cover it.”
He said the irony is that CWMH itself often transfer caesarean patients to Oceania for surgery.
“I chose Oceania Hospital because I wanted the best care for my wife and daughter.”
In response to queries about coverage and the concerns raised, FNPF said medical withdrawal is “designed to ensure members receive support for urgent, medically necessary treatments”.
“However, life-threatening childbirth situations such as emergency caesarean sections, may qualify if medical documentation confirms urgency.”
