FIJI’S first public private partnership (PPP) for the Ba and Lautoka hospitals in the country was signed on Thursday in Suva.
The signing was done by the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on behalf of the Fijian Government with Healthcare Fiji Pte Ltd and Aspen Medical.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Healthcare Fiji Pte Ltd was the joint venture company between Fiji National Provident Fund and Aspen Medical.
“The Aspen Medical is responsible for the clinical outcomes at the Lautoka and Ba hospitals.
I would like to thank the International Finance Corporation team,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
“This partnership will have enormous benefits to ordinary Fijians in respect to providing them tertiary medical care facilities that we do not enjoy such as cardiac surgeries being available 24/7 and radiotherapy,” he said.
He said this could allow other Pacific Island countries to use Fiji as a medical centre to access services provided by Aspen Medical.
He said as part of the concession agreement signed, the special purpose vehicle would put up another structure that would have state-of-the-art operating theaters, facilities and various other amenities currently Fiji did not have access to.
He said the PPP would be up and running in the next six months.
“This will not mean any job loses.
“It means the engagement of the staff there have the option to work for Healthcare Fiji Ltd or alternatively they can join other public health facilities in Lautoka and Ba,” he said.
“The current services that Fijians do not pay fees for or whatever fees they pay at the Lautoka and Ba hospitals will still continue to apply. There will be no extra costs for them.”
Aspen Medical Group chief executive officer Bruce Armstrong said they looked forward to bringing their considerable health care experience to support the Fijian Government’s strategic objectives to modern and develop Fiji’s health system, particularly in primary and health care.
