Dr Ronal Kumar: Doctors Forced to Make Critical Decisions Alone Amid Health System Struggles

Doctors are being left to make critical decisions on their own during overnight shifts, sometimes without access to basic blood tests, X-rays or scans, as Fiji’s health system continues to face serious staffing and resource challenges.

Fiji Medical Association Acting President Dr Ronal Kumar raised the concerns while speaking at the Fiji Medical Association Scientific Conference 2026.

Dr Kumar said doctors in some subdivisions are carrying responsibility for entire hospitals, with no one available to call for a second opinion in some cases and limited access to essential diagnostic services after hours.

He said these conditions are directly affecting clinical decision-making and patient safety.

According to Dr Kumar, laboratory and radiology technicians are often unavailable at night because of issues surrounding unpaid overtime, leaving doctors to explain to patients and their families why certain scans or investigations cannot be carried out after hours.

He said doctors are also working under rosters designed for staffing levels that do not exist, while consultants are being required to supervise more junior doctors than they can reasonably manage.

Dr Kumar said health workers have also faced verbal abuse and threats because of failures within the health system that are beyond their control.

Highlighting the pressure on diagnostic services, he said one large subdivision in the Western Division has only two laboratory technicians and two radiology technicians.

Each is reportedly owed around 300 hours of overtime, equivalent to approximately 38 working days.

Dr Kumar also warned that many doctors are considering moving overseas, particularly to Australia and New Zealand.

He stressed that retaining doctors requires addressing the conditions pushing them to leave rather than appealing to their conscience to remain in Fiji.

He identified rosters, supervision, postings, access to equipment and workplace safety as some of the key areas requiring attention.

The FMA Acting President also raised concerns about the growing number of doctors who have completed their internships but are still waiting for positions.

Dr Kumar said 23 doctors who have completed their internships are currently waiting to be posted, while almost 20 more are expected to complete their internships by the end of this month.

This could bring the number of doctors waiting for employment to around 43.

Dr Kumar said the FMA wants to work with the Ministry of Health on a proper workforce plan to determine how many doctors Fiji needs and where they are required.

He also called for the internship review to be completed with formal representation from the medical profession and for its findings to be made public.

The FMA wants vacant funded positions to be filled and postings made within a defined timeframe, while longer-term workforce planning should also take into account the future of medical students.

Dr Kumar said students entering medical school should have confidence that employment opportunities will be available once they graduate and complete their required training.