Dr Amelia Turagabeci said AI technology has changed how future medical professionals are approaching their studies, according to a Fiji Sun report. Photo: Supplied
In Fiji, medical students are reportedly using artificial intelligence (AI) to produce assignments, causing concerns among health educators in the country.
Fiji's health system is facing an increasing array of problems, including an exodus of qualified personnel, dilapidated infrastructure and shortages of medical supplies.
The Fijian government has declared the health sector as one of its "most urgent priorities", allocating more than FJ$611 million (approximately NZ$451m) in the 2025/2026 Budget last month.
In May, the Fiji College of General Practitioners president called on the country's medical professionals to embrace AI "wisely and ethically".
Last year, the Fiji National University's College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS) assistant professor Hemanth Lakshmikantha told a symposium that AI's "advantages are substantial" and that it "represents a transformative leap forward" in the medical field.
The CMNHS has been providing education for future health professionals of Fiji and other Pacific Island nations for several decades.
But this week, the head of the College told a conference that AI also poses a new challenge: medical students turning to it to complete assignments.
Dr Amelia Turagabeci said AI technology has changed how future medical professionals are approaching their studies, according to a Fiji Sun report.
"AI has come into effect where students can submit things that are AI developed, not really what they have actually done or developed on their own," she was quoted as saying.
"We can actually read that, particularly for those of us that actually try and be in power with whatever is developing."
Turagabeci is calling on health educators "to be a step ahead" of the students to identify AI-generated work and adapt their assessment methods.
