Orthopaedic specialist Dr McCaig joins Pacific Specialist Healthcare

One of Fiji’s leading orthopedic surgeons, Dr Vaigalo Eddie McCaig, has joined Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) at its Nadi hospital, bringing specialist expertise to the Western Division.

PSH founder and chief executive officer Parvish Kumar welcomed Dr McCaig, citing his extensive experience in orthopedics in Fiji and New Zealand.

Dr McCaig comes from a strong medical background. His father, Professor Eddie McCaig, is a respected orthopedic surgeon who continues to be consulted by the medical fraternity.

“I still call dad for advice because you can’t teach experience so he’ll always give his honest opinion,” Dr McCaig said.

Born in Suva, Dr McCaig spent part of his childhood in New Zealand before returning to Fiji and settling in Lautoka, which he considers home.

He attended Drasa Avenue School and Natabua High School before pursuing medicine at the Fiji School of Medicine in 1999, graduating in 2004.

After completing his internship at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, he worked in Vunidawa Hospital in Naitasiri before returning to CWM Hospital to join the surgical unit.

“It was a wonderful year (at Vunidawa Hospital) and I almost never left,” he said.

Dr McCaig later specialised in orthopedics, including two years in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he worked in orthopedic trauma at Christchurch Public Hospital.

He was present during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake and assisted in treating the injured.

“In Fiji you can prepare for a tropical cyclone because you get warned, however you can’t really prepare for an earthquake, there’s no warning,” he said.

He returned to Fiji and worked at CWM Hospital before moving to Lautoka in 2015 as an orthopedic consultant surgeon.

Reflecting on his time in public service, he highlighted the challenges faced by specialists.

“It’s difficult when you’re the sole orthopedic consultant looking after a large population,” he said.

Dr McCaig later gained further experience in New Zealand as a hip and knee arthroplasty fellow in Dunedin before returning to Fiji earlier this year.

He now aims to expand joint replacement services in the West.

“The main goal is to bring the option of Hip and Knee joint replacement surgery to the people of Fiji,” he said.

He said such procedures improve mobility and quality of life for patients suffering from severe joint damage.

Dr McCaig is also teaching part-time at Fiji National University in Lautoka, mentoring the next generation of medical professionals.

“Teaching is very rewarding and my dad always says you have to treat students well because one day they might be looking after you!!” he said.

Mr Kumar said the addition of Dr McCaig strengthens PSH’s specialist services.

“Dr McCaig has international experience after being highly trained in New Zealand and we are now proud to offer his services to our Fijian families and our neighbours from the region,” he said.