The fact that we need another 2000 hospital beds will put some perspective to what has to be done to raise the standards of our health service.
Fiji Medical Association (FMA) president Doctor Basharat Munshi, speaking at the 63rd FMA Annual Conference in Nadi yesterday, made the revelation about the shortage of beds.
If Fijians were to receive proper health care in public hospitals, he pointed out, more than 2000 beds needed to be added to cater for the growing population.
It makes sense. And it also raises some concerns. Why haven’t we started on the process of ensuring this is catered for?
Weren’t we aware of our growing numbers?
Surely this is something that should be considered given the changes in our population figures.
We may not have reached a million people yet, but we surely are getting there.
In saying that, Dr Munshi said it isn’t cheap to build medical infrastructure!
He placed a figure of $4.6 billion in Fijian dollars around such a project.
“We are not saying that we need to pump this into our health system right now but if we are to get to where we need to be this is the amount of capital that we need to inject.”
A number of challenges, he said, would continue to arise if the current resources do not meet Fiji’s demands.
He raised a number of major challenges, including one relating to “old infrastructure”. A “reoccurring problem is the theatre problem at CWM Hospital”.
“I know that solutions are being done and they are coming but we are not able to do elective cases because of this.
“We only have enough space to do the emergency cases and the elective cases they get pretty complicated with those.”
Understandably, there are options they consider such as “some elective cases are being done at the Oceania Hospital to help with the backlog however it is costing us money”.
Challenges such as equipment breakdown, he said, were also common occurrences.
So it is encouraging to note Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Atonio Lalabalavu saying the ministry understood the challenges in Fiji’s healthcare systems that needed to be addressed.
“The foundation of any strong healthcare system is its public health and primary healthcare system,” he said while opening discussions on the second day of the event.
The ministry, he said, was committed to improving our health standards, with a specific focus on public health and primary healthcare.
That includes retaining medical professionals, which remains one of its key focus areas. It continues to grapple with the loss of doctors and nurses to greener pastures.
We realise the need for additional hospital beds and updated infrastructure presents a significant challenge, however, raising it now, also offers an opportunity for meaningful improvement and investment in our healthcare system.
We say the commitment from both Dr Munshi and Minister Lalabalavu is a positive step forward.
It is clear that action and investment are required to meet these needs and ensure that our healthcare system can provide the high standard of care that Fijians deserve. || leader septmeber 15p6 || The fact that we need another 2000 hospital beds w
Editorial comment | Our health care needs!
