Decline in nurses migration
THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services has started to notice a decline in the migration of nurses.
Responding to criticisms by Opposition Member Premila Kumar on nurse shortages, Ministry for Health permanent secretary Dr Jemesa Tudravu said the ministry had been working closely with its stakeholders to address factors contributing to the exodus of nurses from the ministry.
“With the implementation of measures by the government that include salary incentives provided in the current budget, the Ministry has started to report a decline in the attrition rate of nurses from the Mmnistry since November 2023,” Dr Tudravu said.
“While the shortage of nurses and health care workers is a global phenomenon, the ministry will continue with its strategies and its collaboration with stakeholders to address the attrition rate for nurses as well as other health care workers from the ministry, while striving to maintain the standard of health practice to ensure the safe delivery of health services to the people.”
In a statement, Ms Kumar said the nurses shortage was evident with the closure of essential services such as foot care services at the Wainibokasi Hospital.
Dr Tudravu said the foot care services were not closed but was temporarily relocated into the treatment room as there was an urgent need to convert the Foot Care Clinic room to an isolation room during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“All patients requiring foot care treatment were attended to at the treatment room by a trained foot care nurse,” Dr Tudravu said.
“After the opening of the newly renovated SOPD Clinic building (funded through the partnership between Fiji and the New Zealand government), the Special Outpatient Services was moved to the new building together with the foot care clinic for continuation of the service.
“Even with a few nurses at hand, they continued to provide the service because we have trained nurses who could look after the service and they ensure that our population health care needs are met.”