Delayed recruitment within the Ministry of Health is due to the lack of corporate staff to facilitate the necessary civil service-endorsed recruitment processes.
Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu said the process was imperative because of civil service policies that existed before the Coalition Government taking office.
In responding to parliamentarian Penioni Ravunawa’s question regarding delayed recruitment of vacancies in the ministry, Dr Lababalavu said similar concerns were raised during the budget consultation process and they were grateful for the government’s budget approval in the 2023-2024 financial year which helped with the recruitment of essential corporate staff.
“They are critical in running the human resources management processes for the ministry,” he said.
“The Ministry of Health and Medical Services continues to align its recruitment processes to all relevant legislations and guidelines during this transition period awaiting finalisation of employment policies.
“The ministry has in place a recruitment plan based on the approved budget and that will ensure timely filling of funded vacancies.”
Dr Lalabalavu said those vacancies included newly created positions, regularised positions, selected vacant unfunded positions from previous financial years, and vacant positions because of post-holders promotion, retirement, death, resignation, deemed resignation, and termination.
