Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete

Minister for Health has highlighted that the General Practitioners program will start after they identify the areas that need GP services.

When questioned on the delay of the program which was supposed to be rolled out on the 1st of January this year, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says they’re currently going through the details to ensure they identify the right places where the program can start.

Dr Waqainabete says they’re looking at areas where there is only one health facility.

He says the GP Program is going through due diligence as there are things that need to be set out by the Economy Ministry and the Health Ministry before the program is rolled out.

“We’ve rolled into the new financial year, some of the work that we have done last year in terms of the consultancy work and also the discussions, we’ve kept that on hold while sorting out these issues at the moment, once that sorted then we’ll roll out the program.”

Dr Waqainabete says GPs also provide support in a number of public hospitals where there is lack of doctors and are paid $50 an hour whereas specialists are paid $80 an hour.

Under the General Practitioners Program, doctors will expand their services into disadvantaged communities with the government footing the costs for patients.