Nurses are leaving Fiji for better pay abroad, says Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu.
He said the salaries offered overseas were three or four times more than what was offered in Fiji.
Dr Lalabalavu said senior staff at the ministry had brought up this very issue of brain drain with him.
“I had a meeting with the senior staff within the headquarters and some of the senior nursing personnel within the ministry, they’ve raised the issue with me,” the Minister said.
“In terms of the ongoing exodus of nurses issue, not only abroad but locally as well. We have something in place that we can put together to try and minimise that.
“But at the end of the day, they’re going for better pay which is three or four times much better than what we can offer here.”
He said he would have further talks with the relevant people to find a possible solution.
“We have to sit down again with them to see how best we can move forward in trying to get more retention of our locally-trained nurses, who are leaving not only for abroad but locally too.
“We will be having more meetings with them and I believe thereafter they’ll put it in the budget submission.
“But so far they’ve raised the issue, we’ve listened and we’ll put it into action in whatever way we can with regards to trying our best to retain nurses.”
Dr Lalabalavu said the ministry would most likely implement cost-cutting measures because as it was already midway through the budget for the 2022-2023 financial year.
He also said the ministry had adequate resources to carry them through to the next financial year.
