Health officials are sounding the alarm as diabetes-related amputations continue to rise in Fiji, with concerns that many patients are delaying medical treatment in favour of herbal medicine and faith-based healing.

Aspen-operated Ba and Lautoka hospitals are facing growing pressure to maintain round-the-clock operations as staffing shortages continue to place a strain on services.

Non-communicable diseases are killing Fijians in their 40s, 50s and 60s, with 80 percent of adult deaths now linked to NCDs.

Eight nurses from Oceania Hospital in Suva have completed the Fiji Haemodialysis Nursing Certificate Programme, strengthening the country’s specialist renal healthcare workforce.

Access to life-saving vaccines in Fiji’s remote and maritime communities is set to improve with the rollout of 65 solar-powered vaccine carriers under the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ Solar Vaccine Carrier Pilot Programme.

The Health Ministry will now work to ensure that HIV allocated funds are fully utilised.

With the renegotiation process for the Health Care Fiji Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Concession Agreement now in its final stages, expectations are high for improved healthcare services for people in the Western Division.

Concerns have been raised over who should take action when pollution threatens public health, as the proposed Public Health Bill is reviewed by Parliament.

The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources is calling for stronger measures in the proposed Public Health Bill to better protect Fiji’s water sources from pollution.

Hundreds of amputees could soon pay less for prosthetic limbs as the Hope Centre Fiji receives a $20,000 boost to reduce costs.

Health Minister Atonio Lalabalavu says the ministry is strictly posting new doctors to rural and maritime facilities to strengthen primary healthcare.

Fiji could soon open the door to a medicinal cannabis industry, with the government revealing strong public support for exploring the sector.