MONTHS of technical faults and supply delays with a mammogram machine left women in Fiji anxiously waiting for vital cancer screening services at Suva’s main hospital.
Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa said the Colonial War Memorial Hospital faced months of disruption with the machine due to supply chain problems and difficulties sourcing specialised parts.
“While there were delays earlier this year due to technical faults, supply chain constraints, and the procurement of specialised components, these issues have now been rectified,” he said.
Mr Ravunawa said the machine’s breakdown had caused a backlog of tests.
“Testing has resumed, and the backlog is being processed. Pap smear testing capacity has been fully restored.”
While responding to queries from this newspaper, Mr Ravunawa said they were not sitting idle on the issue but were working to rectify it.
“We have been actively working with suppliers and biomedical engineers to secure parts, conduct recalibration, and strengthen maintenance to avoid future disruptions.”
He said the ministry had also procured a new machine, which is expected to arrive in February.
“We have completed the procurement process.”
While he did not reveal how long the machine has been down, women’s health advocate Judy Compain believes the machine has been down since March last year.
“No one can even say when it last worked. That level of neglect doesn’t happen by accident; it happens because women’s health is treated as optional,” she said.
Ms Compain said there have been calls for early cancer detection, but the machines have not been working.
“We just marched through Pinktober, listening to speeches about prevention and early detection. Yet when women walk into a hospital for a simple test, they’re told to go private if they can pay. If they can’t, they wait.”
