In a bid to address social and mainstream media rumours about public funds being used to hold a farewell for former permanent secretary Dr James Fong, the Health Ministry issued a statement yesterday.

In the press release, the ministry said “an internal email correspondence currently shared in the social media and which pertains to arrangements for a farewell ceremony for the former PS of the health ministry contains the outcome of an earlier meeting that was held by the organizing committee on the subject matter.”

“The content was meant for internal circulation and the ministry is concerned that the email has been shared beyond the intended recipients. Arrangements for the said farewell function have since been updated in subsequent meetings of the organizing committee,” the ministry said.

The ministry also said it stood by Health Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu’s assurance that taxpayer’s money would not be used for the proposed former farewell event and it remained committed to abiding by existing financial management regulations for the utilization of the budget allocated to the ministry in this financial year.

“Arrangements for the said farewell function have since been updated in subsequent meetings of the organizing committee.”

The issue was brought to light by a Facebook post by International Women’s Association president Judy Compain, who previously highlighted issues with health facilities in the country.

In her post, Ms Compain said the decision by the Health Minister to commemorate the departure of the retiring former PS Dr Fong by having a big farewell party for him on January 26 in Labasa, at the ministry’s cost, “is frankly outrageous.”

Ms Compain further said “at a time when hospitals in Fiji are desperately in need of financial resources to address failed and demised infrastructure and to provide better medical and support services to the people of Fiji, the minister’s irresponsible decision is a slap in the face of Fiji citizens who are demanding better health services.”