The loss of Fiji’s health workforce puts added pressure on a system that is fighting off the impact of climate change.
According to the Fiji Health Adaptation Plan (FHAP) 2024-2030, while there has been an effective response by the health sector to disasters, the system continues to struggle with human resource limitations.
“The health workforce is an essential building block of the Fijian health system and Fiji plays a major role as a regional training hub for nurses, doctors and allied health professionals,” the report said.
“Nevertheless, the nation faces protracted health worker shortages and experiences difficulty with staff retention. This situation exacerbates the impacts of climate change events which place additional demands on the workforce.”
The six-year plan revealed that despite effective allocation of roles and responsibilities for the management of environmentally-determined and climate-sensitive health conditions, there was considerable scope to strengthen in the area of human resource.
“The strengths of this approach are apparent before, during and after responses to outbreaks of climate-sensitive infectious diseases, which involve clinical and para-clinical staff as well as non-clinical staff.
“Despite the effective organisation of the roles of the health workforce and punctuated attempts at capacity-building, the system struggles with ongoing limitations to human resources for health.
“Consultation elicited that unfilled posts are the norm across various levels of healthcare facilities in all four divisions of the health system in Fiji, and at the same time as there has been an increase in the burden of disease and hospital bed occupancy.”
It said the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent international demands for health practitioners in neighbouring countries have also led to attrition of highly-educated, skilled and sought-after Fijian health workforce.
“Improving the human resources for health is a multi-faceted problem which will be addressed by MHMS through multi-dimensional approaches.”
The report outlined solutions under consideration include raising the retirement age for some cadres of health professionals, redeployment to high-need areas and increasing the intake of health professional students.
