A fiery debate erupted in Parliament this week as Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad and Opposition MP Premila Kumar clashed over the state of Fiji’s healthcare system. The heated exchange occurred during discussions on the 2016-2021 Health Ministry reports, with Prasad accusing the Opposition of hypocrisy while Kumar alleged gross mismanagement and a “collapsing” system under the current government.
DPM Accuses Opposition of “Hypocrisy”
Professor Biman Prasad did not hold back, directly calling out Opposition MPs Premila Kumar and Alvick Maharaj for their current criticism of the health sector. He reminded the house of their past actions while in government.
“These two honourable Members, when we were in Opposition, twice we moved a motion to have an inquiry into the health system and they were sitting here, this side of Parliament and they opposed it,” Prasad stated forcefully.
He argued that the very fact Parliament was now discussing a backlog of annual reports from 2016 to 2021 is proof of the previous administration’s failures. Prasad framed the current challenges as a direct result of the FijiFirst Government’s inaction and leadership.
Health System “Collapsing” Despite Larger Budget, says Kumar
In response, Opposition MP Premila Kumar painted a grim picture of the nation’s healthcare. She argued that despite the Coalition Government having a larger health budget, the system is in a state of crisis and failing to deliver for the people.
“The system is collapsing,” Kumar said, pointing to critical issues plaguing the sector. She highlighted significant delays in employing new nurses, which has placed an immense burden on the existing, overworked staff.
Kumar provided alarming statistics on women’s health services, noting:
- A severe shortage of midwives, with only 200 available for 3,000,000 women of childbearing age.
- The migration of 500 midwives out of Fiji just last year.
- An annual production of only 50 new midwives, many of whom are not bonded to serve in the country.
Allegations of Widespread Financial Mismanagement
A central part of Kumar’s criticism was the alleged mismanagement of the 2023-2024 health budget. She claimed that millions of dollars allocated for critical projects and supplies remained unspent, directly hindering improvements. “This government claims to prioritize healthcare, yet the numbers tell a different story,” she declared.
To support her claim, Kumar presented figures showing significant underspending across several key areas of the health budget.
| Allocation Category | Budget Allocated | Amount Spent |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Quarters | $1,000,000 | $200,000 |
| Labasa Hospital Upgrades | $5,000,000 | <$1,000,000 |
| Special Maintenance | $5,000,000 | $0 |
| Urban Hospital Equipment | $4,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Biomedical Supplies | $12,400,000 | $7,400,000 |
| Dental Equipment | $1,200,000 | $37,000 |
Mental Health and Workforce Crises Deepen
The alleged budget issues extend to mental health services. Kumar highlighted that funding for St. Giles Hospital, the nation’s primary mental health facility, was slashed. “Mental health is in crisis but the budget for St Giles Hospital was slashed,” she remarked, emphasizing the urgent need for more resources.
The healthcare workforce also faces immense pressure. Kumar questioned the government’s planning as new graduates wait months for employment while current staff are overburdened. “Where’s the strategy?” she asked, calling for better resource allocation to address the critical shortages impacting Fijians.
