Increased funds means more doctors: Usamate

Health Minister Jone Usamate said the increased funding for the ministry after the announcement of the 2016-17 National Budget gave him assurance that more doctors would be retained to serve the country. Mr Usamate was speaking yesterday at the Fiji General Practitioners annual general meeting at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. He said: “We have set ourselves a vision which without our general practitioners, we cannot achieve our goals.

“I believe the contribution of General Practitioners have tremendously contributed in Fiji’s health and medical service.

“The Fiji Council of General Practitioners has contributed in a big number in providing a better medical service to all Fijians and I am thankful for the whole team for supporting us and serving our country,” He said he was hoping the increase in the budget for Ministry of Health and Medical Services would give them an opportunity to keep their qualified and experienced doctors and nurses in the country. “I am looking forward in experimenting in new managerial styles to educate and support our current medical students,” he said.

“As we are looking at a possibility of the new Ba Hospital, I am hoping that the current general practitioners will provide guidance and educated our newcomers in the field of medicine in providing better services. Mr Usamate said that it was announced in the Budget that the Government would now cater for the post-graduate training for medical students. Edited by Rusiate Mataika