NO PAY CUT FOR DOCTORS, NURSES
Minister Waqainabete condemns Fijians spreading fake news on social media
There will be no salary cut for doctors and nurses, says the Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.
His assurance yesterday came amid rumours circulating on social media and within the medical fraternity that an impending salary cut was imminent.
Dr Waqainabete said no one was getting any salary cuts and he called on members of the public to refrain from falling into the traps of fake news.
“No one should believe that,” he said as chief guest during the Dialogue Fiji Forum on Social Cohesion at the Pearl Resort and Spa in Pacific Harbour.
“People were initiating fake news such as salary cuts, but what they did not realise was that it actually interfered with the ability of doctors to give their best at work. “Doctors and nurses need to be mentally well to give their best.” Dr Waqainabete said any person, who went to a hospital, should be confident that they were treated by a person who was 100 per cent committed and mentally prepared to look after them.
“Not somebody who is anxious about other matters. We cannot
have that,” he said. There have also been talks of cost-cutting within the ministry, especially with regard to doctors no longer getting free meals from the hospitals.
“We are just following what the General Orders say and the General Orders are that certain people can have meals and certain people cannot,” Dr Waqainabete said. General Orders govern how civil servants work.
“In business houses for example you work a shift, you bring your own meals. People who are working normal shifts, they should bring their own meals,” he said.
“It was always like that, but there was abuse of privilege. There are people who can have meals but that privilege has been abused in the past. “So, the Permanent Secretary made the decision that we should follow what the General Orders say.” Dr Waqainabete slammed people who ‘drag Fiji backwards’
Dr Waqainabete also took a swipe at Fijians who live overseas, but continue to do things that drag Fiji backwards.
“The problem with these people is that for brighter lights they left their home land. Now that they are away they are trying to push Fiji backwards into darkness,” he said.
“These are the people behind the numerous fake news that has created fear, panic and uncertainty.” He was not referring to the September 23rd rumours only, but others before that which included fake election results, fake posts during elections and Kadavu being sold to China.
He said Government had not spared any expenses in uniting Fiji, but people were out there harming the nation.
“It is simple, those people creating fake news in order to divide the nation are simply enemies of Fiji.”
Dr Waqainabete slammed people who ‘drag Fiji backwards’