Health Fact File

Dr Neil Sharma,. Minister of Health

Given the attention given by the Opposition parties to the state of health services in Fiji, it is necessary to publish this file from the Ministry of Health

      HEALTH FACT FILE

HEALTHCARE SPENDS OVER $1BN

GOVERNMENT has spent over one billion dollars in improving health services for Fijians in the last seven years as it moves towards developing a modern healthcare system.

Its major reforms have been backed by funding through increased budgetary allocation for the last three years.

These major investments in health infrastructure will support Government’s efforts to decentralize, and improve accessibility to health services around the country.

Government spent close to $160m in 2012, a further to $170m in 2013, and boosted spending to $222.5m in 2014.

The cornerstones of these reforms are the decentralisation of services to rural and semi urban centres which ultimately offer a cost effective serve to all Fijians.

Reforming pharmaceutical services, upgrading medical equipment and facilities as well better pay for medical professionals to deliver the best effective services have been some of the measures to improve Fiji’s healthcare system.

Prime Minister Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama had also announced further reforms in the health sector to boost primary health care to Fijians.

This is in line with the Constitution guaranteeing adequate health care to all citizens and the extension of the Sigatoka hospital underpins the efforts of the Government to exploit all avenues towards this end.

2014 projects

·        Upgrade of hospitals and health centres continue to be major focus for Government. $4.9 million for the extension and refurbishment of the CWM hospital operating theatre

·        A further $3.0 million allocated for the extension of the CWM maternity unit. This will cater for the increasing number of births at CWM hospital.

·        Funding of $0.6 million has been provided for the construction of a low risk maternity unit in Makoi and $0.25 million for the new Naulu health centre.

·        The Valelevu and Keiyasi health centres will be renovated with a provision of $1.0 million.

·        A further $2.0 million will be provided for the construction of a new hospital in Nausori. The construction and upgrading of these health facilities should help cater for the increasing population within the Suva to Nausori corridor.

·        Furthermore, $7.3 million is provided for the construction of the new Ba hospital and $5.9 million for the upgrading of the Lautoka Hospital’s emergency department.

·        A further allocation of $1.0 million is provided for the extension of the Sigatoka hospital.

·        Other major capital works planned for 2014 include a new nursing station in Nagatagata and health centres in Lagi, Cuvu and Waivaka. A sum of $1.9 million is allocated for these projects.

Construction of Health Centre/Hospitals/Quarters:

·        2009: Labasa hospital extension $7million, 47 beds for the men’s surgical ward, a library and a laboratory.

·        2013: New Nasea Health Centre in the hub of Labasa Town, services include general outpatient department for minor surgeries, pharmacy services and a wellness centre. Benefit  the people of Labasa and the Macuata subdivision

·        2013: Standard Quarters Cikobia Nursing Station (Macuata Province) $192,207 cost

·        2014: New nursing station in Waivaka, Namosi to boost the outreach of medical services and facilities to the public

·        2012: Vatukarasa Nursing Station: interior of Tailevu and Naitasiri now have access to a good health facility. The new nursing station caters for five villages and a few settlements that are located close to Vatukarasa Village, including Navalau and Coloi villages (500 ppl) , cost $400,000

·        2013: Raviravi Nursing Station: people of Yanuca Island and the villagers of Raviravi, Lalati and Rukua, to serve more than 1000 people in the surrounding maritime areas.

·        2013: Korovisilou Health Centre- Construction of nursing Quarters (Serua Province) cost $325,000

·        2013: Dobuilevu Nursing Station in Ra. More than $1million spent on the project.

·        Work on new Nagatagata Health Centre began in 2014. Villagers of Nagatagata travelled more than 15 kilometers on foot to visit a doctor in Nadarivatu.  

·        On-going - New Navua hospital / US$3.5million, which will cover both the relocation and construction of related facilities, benefit 5400 ppl.

·          2013: Tonia Nursing Station in Tailevu/ $211,913 construction of  grade 6 quarters

·          2013: Nayavu Nursing Station Upgrading Project/ $270,000 construction of a duplex grade 6 staff quarter at the Nayavu nursing station (Tailevu Province) Population of 107

·          2013: Construction of Kamikamica Park Hub Centre in Lautoka for diabetic patients 25,000 ppl benefit

·        2014: Nalotawa Nursing Station, benefitted 500 and 700 people living in the following villages: Yaloku, Nanuku, Nalotawa, Tukuraki, Rara, Navilawa, Tabataba, and Nearby Settlement of Cirisobu, Nalotawa District School.

·        2012: Construction on Vunisea Hospital quarters at a cost of $464,000.

·        2012: Batiki Nursing Station refurbishment of clinic and construction of new Quarters $190.000

·        2013: New Accident & Emergency opened at Rakiraki Hospital at a cost of $170,000 benefiting 30,000 people.

·        2013: Makoi health centre mortuary benefit 53,000 people.

·        2010: Bureta health centre construction of clinic in Levuka cater 2403 people in Bureta village and 767 in Moturiki nursing area, 21 villages, 20 settlements and 5 schools also to benefit.

·        2010: Mualevu nursing station quarter in Lau benefitted 1, 200 people of Vanubalavu

·        2012: New dental clinic in Raiwaqa to cater for over 30,000 people living in the Raiwaqa, Raiwai, Vatuwaqa and Laucala Bay area. cost of over $198,000

New Ambulances

·        Replacement of ambulances in Labasa, Rakiraki, Korovou, and a new ambulance at Vunidawa Hospital at a cost of $425,217. These ambulances were more than 10 years old.

New Equipment

·        Installation of MRI machine at CWM Hospital for advanced medical diagnosis completed in 2011 / $3.35m

·        Construction of Cyto-toxic Suite at CWM Hospital for chemotherapy commenced in 2010 and completed in 2011/ $768,926

·        The removal, installation and commissioning of the two industrial lifts at the Lautoka Hospital started in 2012 and completed in 2013 / $988,175.52 for two lifts

·        The supply, installation and commissioning of an incinerator (Medivac model) at Lautoka Hospital.

·        In 2014, renovation of 10 operating theatres at CWM hospital benefits 300,000 population of central division.

·        Equipments such as ventilators, anaesthetic machines, cardiac monitors, treadmills and echocardiograms installed at three base hospitals

·        In 2009, MOH established cardiac catheterization lab worth $1.8m at CWM facilitating first angioplasty in the country.

·        In 2011, install CT scanners at Lautoka and Labasa hospitals

·        In 2010, a $2.4m to outfit all 19 sub-divisional hospitals with ultrasound equipment and x-ray machines.

·        In 2011, Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) services at CWM

·        Mokani mortuary and Tukavesi mortuary construction

·        Pacific Eye Institute opened in 2011

·        In 2011, new accident and emergency department at Savusavu hospital

Decentralisation

·        Since 2011, six health centres in the central division now have extended opening hours for Lami, Samabula, Valelevu, Raiwaqa, Nuffield in Tamavua and Makoi health centers. This is in line with the decentralisation of Health services to better service Fijians living outside the central areas.

Primary Health Care

·        In 2007 to 2011, outreach clinic by CWM to sub-divisional hospitals in Savusavu, Taveuni, Naitasiri, Koro and Kadavu Islands. Navua hospital also provided free medical services to villages in Namosi in 2011.

·        CWM outreach program in 2011 free medical services to people of Koro and Kadavu. 3, 094 people of Koro and 10, 996 people of Kadavu benefit.

·        Outreach /school health program including rheumatic heart disease conduct screenings and awareness program in the maritime zone

·        A total of 10,000 children benefitted from this project. And more that 10,000 adults were seen.

·        The Ministry of Health, in partnership with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education rolled out the National Micronutrient Supplementation Program in primary schools around the country in 2010

·        De-worming children and providing them with Iron tablets and Vitamin A tablets to supplement their growth/program targets to reach 52,000 students in the Central Division, 47,000 in the Western Division, 24,000 in the Northern Division and 8,000 in the Eastern Division.

·        NCD prevention program (Bula 5-30 campaign) launched in 2008 to encourage consumption of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables and 30 mins physical activity

·        National Oral Health Week in all divisions after endorsements of National Oral Health Strategic Plan 2007-2011.

·        Procurement of two oral cancer detection machines in 2009.

·        Promotion of school canteen based guidelines

·        Revitalization of village/community health worker scheme.

·        Finance of nine vaccine at a cost of $1.2m annually.

·        These are rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccine for children under 5 years and HPV vaccine for 12-14 year old girls.

·        Community mental health outreach clinics in all divisions with new stress management wards at CWM, Lautoka and Labasa hospital in 2011 providing treatment and medication.

·        In 2011, Jaipur Artificial Limb camp at Tamavua hospital provided free artificial limbs to 300 patients. This service is available to all people with disabilities.
 

·        New education resource centre opened at CWM hospital hospital’s children’s ward in 2011

MDG Achievements:

·        Fiji is on track to achieve two of the three health-related MDGs by 2015 – on Maternal mortality, Infant mortality and child mortality.

Laws/Policies:

·        In 2011, Cabinet approved HIV/AIDS decree

·        Fiji Essential Medicines Formulary

·        Fiji HIV TB Surveillance Policy

·        Influenza A H1N1 2009 Clinical Practice Guideline

·        National Clinical Products Management Policy

·        UNGASS – National Composite Policy Index (NCPI) 2007

·        Health Information Policy

·        Reproductive Health Policy and Strategy 2010

·        2008 Food and Nutrition Policy

·        Breastfeeding Policy

·        National Food and Nutrition Policy for Schools 2009

·        The Fiji Plan of Action for Nutrition 2010-2014

·        Expanded Programme on Immunisation Policy 2010

·        Fiji PMTCT HIV Policy

·        Rheumatic Heart Disease strategy (under development)

·        Child Welfare Decree 2010

·        Tobacco Control Decree

Human Resource Development

·        Cabinet approved creation of 56 posts for doctors in 2011 and FNU introduced degree course in public health nursing

·        In 2010, nurses increase to 170 annually for the next 3 years to meet 510 vacancies. 

·        Nursing training 40 by TISI Sangam nursing school and 40 by FNU.

·        In 2011, 109 nurses with 60 additional graduates

·        Total Nurses   from 1500 to  2400  with an estimate of 3500  in the next  three years.
Rural nurses are  now provided  free accommodation, and  public  utilities.

·        76 new doctors to be recruited in 2014