After years of sacrifice, sleepless nights, financial burdens and being separated from family, intern doctors in Labasa are facing an uncertain future because they are not sure they will have jobs after July 1.
Labasa Hospital’s intern representative Doctor Maca Ratabua said many of them had fulfilled all requirements of the internship program and expected to transition into placements as promised.
“In July this year, there will be 69 graduates who will finished with their internship and are now waiting for job postings,” she said.
Dr Ratabua said year one and two of the internship were completed over two-and-a-half years in accordance with contractual requirements.
However, delays in post-internship placements and uncertainty surrounding contracts had left many anxious about what came next.
She said interns had formally written to relevant authorities seeking answers on postings and contract arrangements but uncertainty remained.
“We went through proper channels and submitted formal correspondence, but we are still waiting for clarity.”
She made these comments while presenting during the mini Fiji Medical Association conference at the Friendly North Inn in Labasa.
Dr Ratabua said interns wanted to know whether they would still have employment after July 1 and whether they would be forced to leave Labasa Hospital once the contracts ended.
“The question we are asking is simple, are we still going to be doctors after all these years of study?”
She said the uncertainty had become emotionally draining for many young interns who had already made significant sacrifices to pursue medicine.
“We are not asking for special treatment. We are just asking for answers.”
For many young doctors beginning their careers, Dr Ratabua said, the silence had become painful.
This comes after the Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu had sought exemptions to hire new staff following a recruitment freeze linked to rising fuel prices.
Dr Lalabalavu said the issue had already been raised with the Office of the Prime Minister and the Public Service Commission to allow exemptions for critical healthcare workers.
He said the ministry had specifically requested exemptions for newly graduated nurses, doctors and other much-needed health workers to ensure services were not affected by staffing shortages.
