[Photo: FILE]Aspen-operated Ba and Lautoka hospitals are facing growing pressure to maintain round-the-clock operations as staffing shortages continue to place a strain on services. Chief Executive Gavin Whiteside says the broader brain drain affecting the health sector is impacting the two hospitals, creating challenges in maintaining full operations. He says the funding will help ensure hospital departments remain operational, staffed and equipped to continue delivering essential services to communities in the Western Division. Article continues after advertisement“That is to maintain 100% operations, all departments open, staffed, equipped, and we are providing those key clinical services to the communities that we serve in Ba and Lautoka.” He says the updated agreement is expected to pave the way for further improvements in healthcare services over the next 12 months.