The country’s largest private hospital has called for an urgent modernisation of the 40-plus year-old Private Hospitals Act so it remains competitive and future-ready.
Oceania Hospital Pte Ltd chief executive officer David Qumivutia made this call to action on the institution’s 25th year anniversary celebration held at the Tanoa Plaza in Suva last Friday.
He said the regulatory framework designed nearly five decades ago was no longer adequate for Fiji’s current or future healthcare environment.
As private healthcare expands into advanced surgical services, digital health and tertiary-level care, he said outdated legislation posed operational, clinical and reputational risks.
Mr Qumivutia said a modernised Act should prioritise updated definitions and facility classifications; stronger licensing and clinical governance standards; regulation of digital health and emerging technologies; workforce competency and credentialing frameworks; clear patient rights and safety protections; stronger enforcement mechanisms; and alignment with broader national health system reforms.
He said reforming the Act would position Fiji’s private healthcare sector for growth, safety, competitiveness and regional leadership.
He said when the Act was written in September 1979, there was no telemedicine and specialty services.
“Technology is really outdated now so we need to change that to be able to keep in step with the changes that are evolving right now.
“Once we change the legislation, it will then start to cause a lot more changes as we move into the market,” Mr Qumivutia told this newspaper in an interview.
He said there were some discussions that had happened last year in various forums.
“But we need to have some concerted effort to have a look at the Act, start going through with a fine-tooth comb, have a look at it line by line and see what’s relevant, what’s not relevant.
“There is a process so we respect the process.
“We do not wish to simply exist after 25 years. We want to grow, innovate, and remain competitive – locally and regionally.
“Achieving this requires an enabling, forward-looking regulatory environment that allows private hospitals to expand specialist services and serve as strong partners to the public health system for better patient outcomes.”
Mr Qumivutia said Oceania Hospitals was more than a healthcare provider.
“We maintain a strong and growing economic presence, contributing meaningfully to national and regional GDP through employment, capital investment an service delivery that directly reduces offshore medical referrals,” he said.
