Senior Health Ministry Officials will be meeting this week to decide the total number of retired doctors and nurses they seek to retain in civil service.

With a shortage of doctors and nurses faced in the country, the ministry had revealed that while there will be new intakes in both professions, they would still require the services of some nurses and doctors who have retired.

Health Ministry PRO Iliesa Tora said by the end of the week they will come up with a number and a submission will be sent to the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Meanwhile, the retirement age for the civil service including the Police Force and Prisons Service has been set at 55 years according to the new State Services Decree.