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State works on language policy for expat doctors

The Public Service Commission and the Health Ministry is putting in place a policy ensuring doctors who are recruited from overseas can speak and write English well.

Public Service Commission chief executive Anare Jale said: "We currently recruit doctors but there is nothing specific in the policy regarding their proficiency in the English language and that is why we are trying to tidy up some areas of the recruitment requirements.''

Mr Jale said once there was a policy in place it would be easier to enforce the requirement.

"At the moment, when doctors are hired, we do not use interpreters because we usually deal with the contracting agents overseas but once there is something in place it would be easier, to ensure doctors speak and write English well,'' he said.

Mr Jale was reacting to calls made by the Fiji Medical Association to recruit English speaking doctors

Association president Doctor Mary Schramm said there was a need to employ doctors who spoke and wrote English well.

The association wants the Fiji Medical Council to be empowered to mandate the English language so that all doctors can understand their patient's explanations before they make their diagnosis and prescriptions.

The Fiji Nursing Association general secretary Kuini Lutua said when recruiting doctors the Health Ministry should also hire those with clinical experience.

She said while language was a barrier for some doctors several nurses also complained of work overloads because the doctors lacked experience.

Mrs Lutua said the association did not support the move by the Government to hire expatriates.

"The Government should look at strategies for the long term instead of training local doctors and allowing them to go overseas,'' she said.

Mrs Lutua said it was ridiculous to let our doctors leave after graduating only to hire overseas ones to fill in the vacancies at the hospitals and major health centres.

source: fiji times

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