President of the Fiji Medical Association, Doctor Alipate Vakamocea has come out today saying the reduced services at CWM Hospital based on the recent changes to civil service overtime remuneration under Circular 14/2024, place both patients and medical professionals in a precarious position.
Doctor Vakamocea says the FMA urges the Government to immediately review the policy decisions affecting Band F health care professionals, and strongly recommend exempting the Ministry of Health from the current overtime policy, recognizing that their roles are critical to the provision of essential health services to the Fijian public.
He also sends out a caution to the public regarding the limitations now present at CWM Hospital and potentially other public health care facilities.
They urge all Fijians to take proactive steps in managing their health, adopting preventive measures, and seeking regular medical advice to avoid conditions that may require emergency medical intervention.
Doctor Vakamocea says the FMA emphasizes that without essential diagnostic tools available around the clock, the doctors are forced to make critical clinical decisions with limited information.
He says this not only jeopardizes accurate diagnosis and comprehensive patient assessments but also substantially increases the risks of delayed or missed diagnoses, potentially resulting in severe consequences, including permanent disability or even death.
The Fiji Medical Association says it has been alerted to the critical situation currently impacting health care services at CWM.
Doctor Vakamocea says the changes to civil service overtime remuneration have directly impacted health care services, particularly for allied health professionals in the Band F salary scale and below.
As a result, several essential services, including Radiology and pharmacy, have been adversely affected.
This has led to disruptions in vital diagnostic services, including X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and Ultrasound imaging, which are now unavailable after 4:30pm and limited during normal working hours.
Additionally, the hospital pharmacy is not operational after hours, creating further barriers to timely and effective patient care.
Doctor Vakamocea says the FMA is particularly concerned about the health and safety implications for patients who may require urgent diagnostic support outside standard operating hours.
The FMA President says for those presenting with acute or emergency conditions, timely access to these essential services are crucial for life-saving interventions.
He says the inability to access these services due to staffing and policy issues places patients at considerable risk and severely limits the capacity of our doctors and health care providers to deliver the standard of care they are committed to providing.
The FMA President says excluding the Ministry of Health Band F workers from overtime compensation not only compromises patient safety but also places an unsustainable burden on our medical teams working in challenging and resource-limited conditions.
He says as doctors they are part of a team, and if that team is not able to function, they cannot guarantee the provision of a safe, effective, timely and patient centered service.
Doctor Vakamocea says failure to act could result in dire consequences that would undermine the public’s trust in our health care system and compromise the well-being of those it serves.
Serious concerns are being raised by the public as the Ministry of Health has decided that radiology services and pharmacies at Government hospitals and health centres close at 4.30pm after the recent circular from the Ministry of Civil Service.
It is being labelled as a backward step in providing health services.
We are currently trying to speak to the Ministry of Health.
