The Fiji Pharmaceutical Society (FPS) has defended its support for the repeal of the Registration of Skilled Professionals Act (RSPA), saying there is no evidence linking the legislation’s repeal to pharmacist shortages and insisting patient safety must remain the profession’s top priority.
In a position statement released in response to recent public debate, the Society said discussion surrounding the issue should be based on facts, legislation and evidence rather than assumptions.
“Recent commentary has suggested that the repeal of the Registration of Skilled Professionals (RSPA) Act is responsible for pharmacist shortages in Fiji. No evidence has been presented to establish such a causal relationship,” the Society said.
It argued that workforce shortages cannot be attributed to a single legislative change without considering factors such as graduate numbers, vacancies, workforce distribution, working conditions and market trends.
The Society said it has never opposed overseas-trained pharmacists working in Fiji but maintained that all pharmacists, regardless of where they obtained their qualifications, must meet the same competency standards before treating patients.
“Our position has always been that every pharmacist, regardless of where they obtained their qualification, should demonstrate the same level of competence before being entrusted with the care of Fijian patients.”
It said the Fiji Pharmacy Profession Board remains the statutory authority responsible for assessing whether applicants are qualified and competent to practise pharmacy.
The Society also rejected suggestions that changes introduced under the Registration of Skilled Professionals Act improved access to pharmacy services in rural and maritime communities.
It noted that despite overseas pharmacists being able to enter Fiji through the SPEC pathway since 2016, and pharmacy ownership rules being relaxed in 2022, no new pharmacies were established in locations such as Taveuni or Levuka.
“This demonstrates an important point: the absence of pharmacy services in rural and maritime Fiji has never been a registration issue.”
“It is solely dependent upon pharmacy owners and standard business considerations accounting population size, business viability, staffing availability, logistics and operating costs.”
The Society said decisions on where pharmacies are established remain commercial decisions made by private business owners rather than professional registration bodies.
Defending its support for repealing the legislation, the Society said professional registration should remain solely the responsibility of the profession’s statutory regulator.
“It is imperative to highlight that workforce needs and professional competence are not the same thing.”
“A country may need more pharmacists, but that need cannot replace an independent assessment of whether an individual possesses the competence to practise safely.”
The Society also disputed claims that only three pharmacists were successfully registered in 2025.
It said more than 20 pharmacists were successfully registered during the year, describing it as “possibly representing the highest annual number of pharmacist registrations recorded in Fiji.”
The Fiji Pharmaceutical Society said its position reflects fairness, consistency and, most importantly, patient safety, while calling for public discussion on the issue to remain evidence-based.
