Nakasi doctor builds new community healthcare model while earning UK Master’s

A young doctor from Nakasi is reshaping the way healthcare is delivered in one of Fiji’s fastest‑growing corridors, while simultaneously advancing his own medical qualifications abroad.

Dr Aoneesh Arun Sharma, 30, recently graduated with a Master of Science in Acute Medicine from the University of South Wales in the United Kingdom, completing the programme on January 26.

But while earning an international degree, his focus has remained firmly at home: strengthening community healthcare in Nakasi.

Dr Sharma is the executive chairman of Nine Miles Medical PTE Limited, a facility he helped build and now leads, and which later expanded into the Nakasi Private Hospital. Both are fast becoming essential services for residents who previously had limited private healthcare options.

For Dr Sharma, the work goes far deeper than erecting buildings or adding services.

“It is not just about opening a facility but creating a place where patients can access care closer to home with dignity, continuity, and trust,” he said. “I am especially proud that this work was done while I was continuing to grow academically and professionally.”

A vision beyond the consultation room

His journey towards transforming healthcare began with a simple motivation: to practically improve people’s lives. Growing up in Nakasi and later working in Fiji’s medical system exposed him to the gaps and pressures families face when seeking timely, compassionate care.

“Over time, that motivation evolved from simply wanting to treat individual patients to wanting to help build stronger healthcare services for the wider population,” Dr Sharma said.

A major shift came when he moved from being a frontline clinician to taking on broader leadership roles that required him to balance clinical work with administration, governance, and strategic decision‑making.

“That transition required a change in mindset because decisions were no longer only about the patient in front of me, but also about systems, staff, sustainability, and long‑term service delivery. It taught me how important flexibility and perspective are in leadership.”

Under Dr Sharma’s leadership, Nine Miles Medical and Nakasi Private Hospital have grown into community‑anchored institutions tailored to meet local needs.

The model focuses on:

• Accessible services within close distance
• Continuity of care through strong patient‑doctor relationships
• Trust‑built systems, especially for families with chronic illnesses
• Professional development for local medical staff
• Long-term sustainability, rather than just acute patient treatment

His work is helping decentralise care, bringing services closer to where people live, rather than forcing them to travel into Suva or Nausori for basic or urgent needs.

From left: Shyal Sharma (wife), Dr Aoneesh Arun Sharma and sister Pooja Sharma Shankar at the graduation.

Photo: Supplied

Balancing study and service

Pursuing a master’s degree abroad while running a growing healthcare service came with its own challenges.

“It represents not only academic success, but also resilience, discipline, and a commitment to applying knowledge in real‑world settings,” he said.

Dr Sharma is no stranger to academic commitment. He completed his MBBS at the University of Fiji in 2018, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Epidemiology (FNU, 2021) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Microbiology (2023). He is currently working toward two additional master’s degrees, Family Medicine and Renal Medicine, from the University of South Wales.

Stepping into leadership early in his career came with significant risk.

Building new healthcare services in Fiji means navigating staffing pressures, limited resources, long hours, and financial uncertainty. But Dr Sharma believes the risk was worth it.

“It allowed me to contribute more broadly to patient care and help shape healthcare delivery in my community,” he said.

Unexpected hurdles, such as balancing clinical demands with administration, taught him adaptability and composure under pressure.

“Persistence, teamwork, and clarity of purpose are often more important than ideal conditions.”

Rooted in values

Dr Sharma grew up in Nakasi and attended Bhawani Dayal Primary and High School. With both parents being schoolteachers, discipline and service were instilled from a young age, values that later shaped his approach to medicine.

His advice to aspiring medical students reflects this foundation:
“Enter the profession for the right reasons. Service, discipline, and a genuine respect for human life are essential.”

Although he holds leadership positions and advanced qualifications, Dr Sharma said success, for him, is about community impact.

“If patients trust me, if services improve, if my team grows stronger and if the institution becomes more capable of serving the community, then I consider that success.”

As expectations around healthcare grow in Fiji, he believes models that are practical, sustainable, and responsive will be essential.

His long‑term aim is clear: “To help build a stronger model of local healthcare delivery that is practical, sustainable, and responsive to people’s real needs.”