FIJI faces one of the highest rates of diabetes-related amputations globally, according to Indian High Commissioner Suneet Mehta.
Citing Health Ministry figures, Mr Mehta told the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine (UPSM) international health conference in Lautoka recently approximately three diabetes-related amputations are performed daily in the country’s major hospitals, and that the burden of NCDs in Fiji was “especially severe and pressing”.
Mr Mehta said hypertension, obesity, and kidney diseases were also increasingly prevalent.
“Each year, hundreds of thousands of patients from Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, including right here from Fiji, travel to India for advanced treatment in cardiac surgery, kidney transplants, orthopaedic and spinal procedures, cancer therapy and diagnostics, and holistic wellness care,” he said.
Mr Mehta said Indian hospitals meet global standards and are staffed by internationally trained professionals who offer cost-effective services and begin treatment with minimal waiting time.
“An increasing number of Fijian patients, especially those requiring cardiac care, dialysis, and cancer treatment, are now receiving care at Indian hospitals in cities like Chennai, Delhi, and Hyderabad,” he said.
“India has always believed that healthcare partnerships are not just about sharing resources, but about sharing responsibility and knowledge. India’s experience can serve as a model for the Pacific, including Fiji.”
Mr Meta referred to findings of a World Health Organization report that identified NCDs as responsible for more than over 70 per cent of global deaths and more than 80 per cent in the region.
“Health systems across the world are under growing strain. And while innovation offers great promise, that promise must be matched by a firm commitment to equity,” he said.
“Among the most pressing challenges in global healthcare today is the rise of non-communicable diseases.
“These include, but are not limited to, chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory conditions and mental health disorders.”
Mr Mehta said NCDs are a recognised public health crisis and representative of developmental emergencies.
“They disproportionately affect the low-income communities, reduce household productivity, strain national healthcare systems, and impede economic growth.
Participants at the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences International Health Conference 2025 at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni, Lautoka. Picture: SUPPLIED
Attendees of the 2025 International Health Conference hosted by the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni, Lautoka. Picture: SUPPLIED
Indian High Commissioner Suneet Mehta officiates at the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences International Health Conference 2025 at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni Lautoka. Picture: SUPPLIED
Indian High Commissioner Suneet Mehta (middle) with participants at the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences International Health Conference 2025 at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni Lautoka. Picture: SUPPLIED
Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children?s Hospital Director Dr Krupali Tappoo makes a presentation during the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences International Health Conference 2025 at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni Lautoka. Picture: REINAL CHAND
Participants at the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences International Health Conference 2025 at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni Lautoka. Picture: REINAL CHAND
Participants at the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences International Health Conference 2025 at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni Lautoka. Picture: SUPPLIED
Participants at the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences International Health Conference 2025 at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni Lautoka. Picture: SUPPLIED
Participants at the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences International Health Conference 2025 at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni Lautoka. Picture: SUPPLIED
Participants at the Umanand Prasad School of Medicine and Health Sciences International Health Conference 2025 at the University of Fiji campus in Saweni Lautoka. Picture: SUPPLIED
