Fiji underinvests in its health sector: report – FBC News

World Bank health specialist Dr Mesulame Namedre says Fiji has a history of underinvesting in its health sector compared to its upper-middle-income peers.

With total health spending accounting for 4.25 percent of gross domestic product, Dr Namedre notes that Fiji spends less on health than countries with similar income levels.

Fiji’s public health expenditure, as a proportion of total health expenditure, was 2.6% of GDP in 2019, which is lower than most of its regional and upper-middle income peers.
Dr. Namedre points out that while government spending in the health sector may increase, the bigger question is where exactly that money is being spent.

“So there are increases in other areas of spending as well, but because the spending on hospitals is much greater, that again crowds out spending in the other areas of health that the government is spending money on. money. So with all this money being spent on hospitals, we’re also trying to see if hospital spending is being optimized.

He also says urban health centers, which serve the majority of patients, are often overwhelmed.

Furthermore, Dr. Namedre notes that many fully equipped hospitals do not use their resources efficiently and fail to achieve the patient occupancy rate of 70 to 80 percent.

“The fact is that a lot of money is flowing to hospitals, but are we making the best use of these hospitals? And then, in comparison, we look at primary health care settings. We look at health centers and nursing stations. Most of us have had contact with health facilities. We know what health centers look like, the plumbing systems, the electricity supply of medicines, but also the human resources of these establishments.

These findings were highlighted in the World Bank’s health sector study in Fiji.

The report, titled “Mo Bulabula, ka Bula Balavu: I wish you a healthy and long life,” will be officially launched today by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

One of the objectives of this review, requested by the Ministry of Finance, is to reduce the number of patients with chronic diseases and associated complications who seek care in secondary and tertiary facilities, while placing greater emphasis on strengthening primary health care.