HEALTH Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu has urged dental graduates still without public-sector placements to approach the ministry directly, as some junior dentists say they have been waiting up to 15 months for employment.
“They should just come to HQ and talk with our human resources department,” Dr Lalabalavu told The Fiji Times.
“Or even come up to my office and I can talk with them and see how best we can address their issues.”
The call comes as graduates from the 2023-2024 cohort say they remain unemployed despite completing five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery degrees, mandatory one-year internships and registration with the Fiji Medical and Dental Council.
“Despite completing all required education and training, many of us have now remained unemployed for approximately 14–15 months since completing our internship,” they said.
The graduates said some had found only inconsistent work in private practices while waiting for public-sector positions.
The 2024 cohort, which completed internships in March 2026, is also awaiting placements after sitting Dental Officer interviews that month. The vacancies were first advertised in December 2025.
The situation has also affected National Toppers Scheme recipients, who are bonded to serve Fiji for seven and a half years but say some have completed only one year of service.
Fiji Dental Association president Dr Parikshath Naidu said the association was aware of graduates struggling to find work but did not have official unemployment figures.
“We have assisted where we could by supporting their registration, sharing advice and looking for job vacancies,” he said.
The association said workforce planning should prioritise basic dental care and employment for local graduates before expanding specialist services.
