A-G: Why PPP of Hospitals Will Benefit Economy, People
What nonsense!
This was the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum's response to an article on the Public Services International website, which Fiji Nursing Association is linked with.
The article queried the effectiveness of the proposed Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) of two public hospitals here.
"You have to be aware of the politicisation of the economic policies," Mr SayedKhaiyum said during the Fiji Ports Terminal Limited workers' $450,000 bonus pay out yesterday..
“We need to ensure that we put in place the right economic policies because our objective as Government is to create economic prosperity,” he said.
The initiative, he said is aimed at creating jobs and industry adding that there needs to be a long term plan when it came to economic strategy and ‘we need to think what will be the spill-over effect'.
He had earlier said the Public-Private Partnership for Lautoka and Ba Hospitals does not mean the privatisation of our healthcare system.
A few months ago, he noted that he had made clear that both hospitals would remain public health facilities under the proposed PPP project and that no existing healthcare staff member would lose their job.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum in his consultations with health professionals at the Ba and Lautoka hospitals, told them that the proposed PPP project was a long term strategy and its benefits would not only be for them but for the economy. He further highlighted that under the PPP project, they would be able to give access to new, improved and better quality medical services to ordinary Fijians and it would also empower our healthcare professionals by granting them access to the tools and resources they need to do their jobs well.
What did association say?
Fiji Nursing Association's National Council executive member Isimeli Radrodro Tatukivei raised concerns during a recent meeting involving the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Bali, Indonesia.
Public Services International, a global trade union federation in a statement released online quotes Mr Tatukivei saying: “As nurses we have a responsibility to know what the impact of PPPs might be for our communities and the workers.”
It said his inquiry comes at an important time as Fiji enters into National elections in mid November.
“We don't know why our government has recommended to privatise Lautoka and Ba hospitals through PPPs” said Mr Tatukivei.
“We are often told the PPPs are not a form of privatisation, however the information I have gathered from attending these meetings make it clear that PPPs are a version of privatisation. “The community and healthcare workers in Fiji don't know enough about what PPPs will do to healthcare.
“I will take this information back to Fiji to discuss with the unions, communities and relevant government ministers.”