PRELIMINARY works on the construction of a modern diagnostic centre at the MIOT Pacific Hospitals, formerly known as Suva Private Hospital, has commenced.
The development works are part of the new operations of Fiji’s first private hospital which was recently acquired by Indian-based multi-specialty hospital, MIOT International.
The acquisition will soon provide more specialised medical services from Indian specialties and modern facilities previously unavailable in Fiji.
The hospital has already issued a public notice for construction and upgrade works at its basement area and car park where the new diagnostic centre will be situated.
MIOT International managing director Dr Prithvi Mohandas, who is a leading orthopaedic surgeon based in India, said one problem that he found in Fiji was diagnosis to determine what was wrong with a patient.
“We need to solve that and the first thing we need to work on is diagnostics and for that we need machines and space,” he said.
“We are creating space in the basement area for scanners, labs and our intention is that by June that space will be equipped.
“The atmosphere has to be dust free, the temperature has got to be right and the power completely has to be without breakdown with back-up generators.”
The expansion and development works, which is expected to further boost services rendered at MIOT Pacific Hospitals, is valued at around $14 million.
With the hospital’s current accommodation capacity standing at 40 beds, Dr Mohandas has revealed their plans to increase to 50 beds in June while further plans are to reach 150 beds within the next 18 months.
According to Dr Mohandas, five personnel from India earlier arrived in the country and have started work at MIOT Pacific Hospitals.
This, he said, included an administration head and a medical director who would be based at the hospital full time.
“This is to provide the staff here with the kind of idea of what we are going to get out of this synergistic experience,” he said.
“We’ll also be taking key staff from here in every area to the mother ship (India) and to give them an experience the scenario of what we expect out of them.”
In terms of specialised services, Dr Mohandas said they were currently evaluating which specific services were urgently needed at the hospital.
“Right now this week throughout the month we are testing the waters on which specialties can offer anything,” he said.
“The most important thing to know when you are doing any business is that success breeds success.
“So we will choose the five specialty areas that we truly desperately need and that’s possible to fit the ground.
“We want to be able to start with something that will immediately show a huge difference.”
Dr Mohandas added that they were also conducting a free camp for all heart services for both children and adults until Friday.
“We have a specialist here who deals with children’s hearts and two specialists for adults’ hearts,” he said.
“They are here for the entire week conducting a free camp on anybody just to see what sort of diseases are here, how good or bad it is and what exact area it is.
“More specialists are going to arrive over the next couple of months.
“This will give us a really good idea on what we are going to go with.”
MIOT Pacific Hospitals is 30 per cent owned by MIOT International while BSP Life owns a majority of 70 per cent which was effective on January 1, 2017.
