The Ministry of Health has hired 10 private practitioners to help at Suva's largest Hospital, Colonial War Memorial Hospital due to the shortage of doctors.

Interim Minister for Health, Doctor Jiko Luveni said that they have brought in the doctors as their training graduates from the Fiji School of Medicine are still doing their attachment in the rural Health Centres and will be available later on in the year.

Dr. Luveni adds that these doctors have been rostered into the various Departments in the Hospital however, the Pathologists post remains empty.

However, she adds that they will only bring in overseas doctors if this specialist post is not filled.

Last week, Devika Sharma a resident of Raiwaqa had expressed concern that she had to wait for seven hours to see a doctor in the General Outpatient Department at CWM.

Doctor Luveni revealed that doctor shortage had been an issue last year and that this year they would utilise the student graduates from FSM once they had finished their course.