The CWM employee strike is a lie

The Department of Health wishes to inform the public that allegations of a strike by radiology and pharmacy staff at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital are false.

They say CWM Hospital is experiencing a shortage of qualified radiology and pharmaceutical staff and services in two departments have been temporarily reduced to accommodate the current number of staff available in the two departments.

The ministry says the operating hours for the Radiology Department and Pharmacy Department at CWM Hospital are now 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

In addition, they say that after-hours emergency radiology tests can be outsourced by the hospital to approved private providers if deemed necessary.

The ministry says further discussions are currently underway to provide two weekend services and members of the public will be informed of this arrangement once it is finalized.

They say employees of the two departments of CWM did not go on strike but complied with the Ministry of Civil Service’s circular on overtime and substitute leave (TOIL) for all civil servants, which was issued on October 1. 2024.

The ministry said the circular limited overtime compensation to officers with grade E salaries and below, as well as nurses with grade F salaries.

However, they say it has been noted that the lack of Allied Health employees taking time off instead further contributes to the lack of staff available to provide services.

The Department of Health is consulting with the Department of the Civil Service, which has recognized the public health issues arising from the actions taken to streamline the implementation of the furlough in lieu and overtime system for all public servants.

Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Parmesh Chand assured that the ministry is committed to working with the Ministry of Health and will meet tomorrow to discuss strategies to ensure workforce sustainability and continuation of services to the public.

The Department of Health, while appreciating the work of its hard-working staff, is equally aware of the impact of ongoing staff shortages on patient care and the health and well-being of its staff, and is working to ensure that both issues are adequately addressed.

They say that in response to the long-standing shortage of health workers in the country, the Ministry of Health has begun consultations with its partners and stakeholders, including the Ministry of Public Service and the two medical universities in Fiji – Fiji National University and Fiji University, on sustainable short- and long-term solutions to meet health workforce needs in Fiji.

The Department of Health says consultations are ongoing and the health workforce plan is expected to be finalized and launched in early 2025.