RECENT studies commissioned by the Government looking into Fiji’s health ecosystem indicate that present public health outcomes have deteriorated in the past 20 years, says Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad.
Prof Prasad made the comment while officiating at the launch of the health partnership between the Ramakrishna Mission Fiji and the South Pacific Relief Fund Inc. This partnership will enable the provision of improved general outpatient services by the Sarada Medical Centre in Nadi.
“So, we got the board in to review our health system, and we also got the Australian Government to look at our CWM Hospital, and what the report showed very clearly is that our health outcomes were better in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s,” he said.
“The report clearly says that by the time people reach 50 years, their productivity is half, because of the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases, and the number of people who end up in hospitals to ask for tertiary care.”
Prof Prasad said previous spending done by the Government at the public health level to improve basic services had also deteriorated.
This prompted the Government to take active steps in addressing this issue.
“In the last two years, we have undertaken very decisive budget allocation to improve our facilities throughout the country.
“Immediately, we set out as a government to fix our health centres.”
Prof Prasad said the Government was focusing on delivering better health care, quality education, roads, bridges, water supply, and electricity.
