1 day Ago By Jake Wise
As many as a hundred and thirty health facilities across Fiji remain disconnected from the internet. This was revealed by Margareta Norris Harrit, senior health specialist at the World Bank, who highlighted that the majority of these facilities are nursing stations, particularly in rural and maritime regions where internet connectivity has proven difficult to extend. Digital connectivity, Ms Harrit emphasised, is crucial for improving healthcare in these regions.
“The digital, we do see as a really important investment in the maritime and rural areas, because, you know, whether it’s a nurse or a doctor who sits out there, the ability to be able to reach a counterpart and consult with someone around a diagnostic or around a prescription is really important. “And it sometimes means that if you have that possibility, you may not have to send your patients in,” Ms Harrit said. “You know, when people are ill, you prefer to stay where you are, because you’re already not feeling well.
“So, having the digital connectivity can be really, really helpful, obviously, everywhere.” She said the lack of connectivity not only hinders consultations but also complicates the process of managing patient care. In some cases, doctors and nurses are forced to rely on personal mobile phones and seek out Wi-Fi hotspots in the community to access vital information.
While this workaround may sometimes provide a solution, it is inefficient and disruptive. According to Ms Harrit, the ability to improve connectivity in these areas would not only streamline communication between healthcare providers but also enhance the overall quality of care and reduce the need for patient referrals. “Making digital connectivity easier and more reliable in rural and maritime areas could reduce the number of unnecessary referrals, which are often a burden on both patients and healthcare facilities.
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