Fiji’s ministry of Health has embarked on new approach to strengthen their operational research skills and improve on fact finding processes that will improve healthcare in the country.
This was relayed by the Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma while opening the Tuberculosis Operational Research workshop held in Suva this morning.
“Any form of research, has been a difficult area in the past, tainted with the vision of white coats, high technology and confusion about analysis writing skills and publications,” Dr Sharma said.
“We have remained data rich, yet research poor; however with the change in mindset from academics namely the Fiji School of Medicine, we should witness changes in operational research.”
Minister Sharma commended the efforts from various academics for their interests in developing research skills to improve Fiji’s health care system.
Meanwhile the National Tuberculosis Program co-ordinator Shakti Gounder said one of the major setbacks in the areas of research is quality assurance of information obtained from patients.
“We need to build on training amongst our nurses and health care professions on how efficient they can deliver the accurate information on Tuberculosis cases or any other related diseases,” Mr Gounder said.
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