Hospital Wary of Rise in Critical Patients Living with HIV
Hospitals in Lautoka, Labasa, and Suva now face a dual crisis: the rising HIV burden and the behavioural challenges of treating patients with drug dependencies.
Saturday 02 September 2023 | 01:11
Colonial War Memorial Hospital Emergency Room main entrance.
Ronald Kumar
The Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) is under mounting pressure as it struggles to care for the growing number of critically ill HIV patients.
Many of them in their teens are suffering from complex co-infections and late-stage symptoms.
Dr Shrish Acharya, the senior consultant physician at CWMH, said there had been a disturbing increase in advanced HIV cases arriving at hospitals around Fiji.
“We’re seeing more and more young people, especially teenagers, and adolescents coming in very sick, sometimes in a coma,” Dr Acharya said.
“We pull them back from the brink, and then they disappear before completing treatment.”
Hospitals in Lautoka, Labasa, and Suva now face a dual crisis: the rising HIV burden and the behavioral challenges of treating patients with drug dependencies.
Dr Acharya recalled recent cases of patients fleeing hospitals as soon as they felt better, one of them just 15 years old.
“They come in very sick. We stabilize them, and once they feel good enough to walk, they vanish. Some are chasing drugs. Others are just in denial.”
Dr Acharya revealed this in a three-day training for internal medicine and intensive care specialists. It is to equip them with advanced knowledge to manage HIV alongside complications such as hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, or chronic illnesses like diabetes.
“We are the last gate to stop people from dying. It’s our responsibility to make sure they survive and return to the community.
But capacity remains an issue. Hospital space is limited. Testing and medication access can be inconsistent. And the long-term care HIV demands, often lasting months, adds to the pressure.
“HIV is lifelong, but when combined with co-infections, patients can stay weeks or even months in the hospital. That’s a huge load for our already stretched system.”
He believes stigma, addiction, and a lack of follow-up support at the community level are major obstacles.
“This needs a team approach. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.”
