An average of 6 nurses retire each month as a result of reaching their retirement age of 55 years, and this has pushed the Health Ministry to recruit more graduate nurses.

That is the stand the Health Ministry is taking as they today announce the recruitment of graduating nurses from the T.I.S.I Sangam nursing school in Labasa and the Fiji School of Nursing.

Ministry Spokesperson, Illiesa Tora said since the retirement age policy came into effect in April this year and more qualified nurses retiring every month, over 140 posts have been left vacant.

After Cabinet approval earlier this year, the Ministry will be taking in 50 graduate nurses from the Labasa School into the workforce from next year.

In totality, 170 new graduate nurses per year will be recruited over the next three years and this basically means that all those that pass through the program for the next three years are guaranteed a job.