This is in response to statements made by Fiji Nurses’ Association’s President, Mrs Quini Lutua in a Fiji Times article (FT 13/03) titled, “Health care operations under scrutiny”.
Health Ministry spokesman, Peni Namotu said that while the Fiji Nurse’s Association was entitled to its opinion, the Ministry of Health would like to make clarifications to issues expressed by the association.
Mr Namotu said the issues mentioned as strengths by the association was the main objective of decentralization in ensuring that services were taken closer to the community
“However, we do not agree to the negative effect as we have provided enough staffing personnel to these health centers to ensure proper coverage of duty during these extended hours on a two-shift arrangement,” Mr Namotu said
“We have also received a lot of positive feedbacks from the community on the significant reduction on waiting time.”
He said the clogging up of GOPD in CWM was becoming a thing of the past now because our people worked efficiently to ensure timely provision of outpatient services
Mr Namotu concluded the increase in utility bills had been considered prior to the roll out of decentralization but the Ministry of Health’s priority was getting services to the people in a minimum cost effective manner
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