Under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) the Government will engage an internationally-certified hospital operator to complete the upgrade of Ba and Lautoka hospitals into world-class health facilities.

While announcing the 2018-2019 National Budget last Thursday night, Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said engaging international operators would bring an unprecedented slate of health services to the Fijian people.

This includes better tertiary care, oncology services to treat cancer, kidney dialysis, better maternity care for more Fijian mothers, procedures for NCDs, and for the first time, the 24/7 availability of open-heart surgeries. He said not only for the wealthy, not only for those who can travel overseas, but for every Fijian.

“So, real change is certainly coming, impactful change, change that will save Fijian lives,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.    

He added that the project would provide a wide offering of new training opportunities for medical staff in Fiji and put new, cutting edge medical technologies in the hands of Fijian healthcare professionals.

“I’d like to be clear again, this is not a privatisation. All of our staff will always have the option of continuing to work in the public sector,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“We’re currently in the process of carefully selecting the right partner for Fiji on this project and have just issued the request for tender. We expect to identify that partner this year and get this important project underway.”

He also added that under the PPP, the annual cost to the Government is expected to remain similar to the current costs of running both hospitals, but those hospitals would be delivering more and better services to our people, in new and more sophisticated healthcare facilities.

“The health needs of our people are growing, our population is increasing, albeit slowly, and Fijians are becoming more conscious of their health and keener to access medical services and that’s a very good thing.”

Meanwhile, work on the Ba Hospital is nearing completion now.

SELITA BOLANAVANUA

Edited by Epineri Vula

Feedback: selita.bolanavanua@fijisun.com.fj