The Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr Lepani Waqatakirewa said the Health Ministry is not facing any major nursing crisis in the country.

Dr Lepani adds that there are more nurses awaiting employment than positions available in the civil service to employ them.

He said this year 50 nurses resigned, 18 have retired while 2 died however it did not create vacancies in the base grade as the Ministry had over established nurses by 34 at the beginning of the year.

Dr Lepani said alot of Staff Nurses have been acting in higher positions which has resulted in temporary vacancies in the staff nurse grades, which the Ministry is in the process of filling with recent graduates of the Sangam School of Nursing.

According to Dr Lepani doctor and nurse shortage problems are being currently addressed.