The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has confirmed that the recruitment of new Medical Officers will proceed following an exemption granted from the Government’s public service hiring freeze.
In a statement, the Ministry acknowledged concerns raised by medical interns regarding their appointments as Medical Officers and welcomed the intervention by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
The Ministry expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for approving an exemption from Ministry of Civil Service Circular No. 6/2026, which imposed a freeze on new appointments and vacancies across the public service as part of Government measures responding to the global fuel crisis.
With the exemption now in place, the Ministry says it will move ahead with the recruitment and selection of new Medical Officers who have successfully completed their internships and obtained general registration with the Fiji Medical Council.
“The Ministry will now proceed with the recruitment and selection process for new Medical Officers who have successfully completed their internship and obtained general registration with the Fiji Medical Council,” the statement said.
The Ministry emphasized that all appointments will be conducted in accordance with established recruitment and selection procedures.
Health officials anticipate the process will be completed by August 2026, allowing qualified graduates to transition into permanent medical roles within the public health system.
The development is expected to provide reassurance to recent medical graduates and help strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce at a time when demand for medical services continues to grow.
