Akbar: Local Medics To Learn More From Visiting Teams

It is important for local health practitioners to work closely with international specialist medical teams to help upskill them.

This was the comment from the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Rosy Akbar, during the 60th annual scientific conference for Fiji Medical Association held at the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour yesterday.

“From the visiting teams, something that worries me is how much of those skills and knowledge we have been able to retain,” she said.

“We need to work with the visiting medical teams and see how best our people can be trained and exposed to those skills and knowledge so that they can serve the people.”

She said the way forward was by building the country’s skill sets.

“We accept the fact that there are gaps that need to be addressed and with fruitful discussions and collaborations, we should be able to find a better way for the future and service delivery of Health Ministry,” Ms Akbar said.

“A robust health system means one that is responsive to the needs of its people.

“It is important for us to understand what the needs of our people are, the need of the country is.

“And it is very important for the enhancement of the health care facilities,” Ms Akbar said.

She said the health system was constantly under public criticism because it was dealt with people, emotions, life and death. “We must acknowledge that there are a lot of good work that are being done within our health systems while we are trying to improve the infrastructure, improve our procurement facilities to ensure that medicines are regularly available.”

She said the expectations of our people was very high, which set a benchmark of where the health sector needed to go. Edited by Ranoba Baoa