New dialysis centre opens at Nasese Private Hospital

A new dialysis centre opened in Suva on Saturday, bringing much-needed relief to hundreds of Fijians battling kidney failure who previously had to travel long distances for treatment.

The Kidney Hub launched its latest unit at Nasese Private Hospital on Ratu Sukuna Road — its fourth centre nationally — in partnership with the hospital, making dialysis services more accessible to patients in the capital.

Kidney Hub Clinical Director Dr Amrish Krishan said the opening was driven by a growing crisis.

"The demand for dialysis has increased because the amount of people who have kidney failure has just increased over the last two decades," he said.

There are currently more than 300 patients on dialysis across Fiji, with centres in Suva, Nausori, Lautoka, and Labasa. The Kidney Hub alone is treating 60 patients.

Dr Krishan said the numbers were only expected to rise. The 2025 STEPS Survey found that 16.5 per cent of Fiji's adult population has diabetes — the leading cause of kidney failure.

"We're going to see more and more people with kidney failure," he said.

Nasese Private Hospital Medical Director Dr Virgilio De Asa Sr said the new centre would serve patients across the greater Suva area, noting the existing Nausori facility was difficult for many to reach.

"It will be more centrally located, so that will benefit probably the whole of Suva or most of our patients," he said.

Dialysis is a medical treatment that does the work of failed kidneys by filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood. Patients typically need sessions several times a week.

Dr Krishan acknowledged the cost remained a challenge for many families and called on the Government to increase its dialysis subsidy.

"We can't subject them to all of these out-of-pocket expenses that is so debilitating to them and their families," he said.

He added that future centres were being planned for Tavua, Rakiraki, and the outer islands.