The Fiji and Japanese governments signed an agreement for Japanese consultants to conduct a basic design study for the redevelopment of the Fiji School of Medicine and the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, an article published by The Fiji Times on April 19, 1990 stated.
The study would have involved input from the Fiji School of Medicine and centred on the construction of new units next to the CWM Hospital to help the FSM integrate its programs more closely with the hospital.
The agreement was signed by the then Minister for Health Dr Apenisa Kurisaqila and the leader of the team of Japanese consultants Dr Atsuaki Gunji.
The head of the Fiji School of Medicine, Professor Ian Lewis, told The Fiji Times the agreement meant planners would have to work on designs for the new buildings.
“It’s really the first stage of the FSM/CWM Hospital redevelopment project which will cost $20million when completed by March 1993,” he said.
“There are two other stages of the development which will involve upgrading the Fiji School of Medicine and further work at the CWMH.
“The overall redevelopment could cost between $60million and $80million when completed.
“But while the last two stages still need to be negotiated, basically the agreement signed today covered the first stage of the redevelopment program,” Prof Lewis said.
The first stage of the redevelopment would involve the construction of a general outpatients clinic, specialised clinics, an accident and emergency unit, a diagnostic unit, an operation unit, a central supply and sterilising unit, a pharmacy, blood banks, acute care ward and education facilities which included a clinical lecture room and seminar rooms.
It would also include the establishment of a Central Medical Library within the CWM Hospital compound.
The new buildings would be located on a piece of land that was used as a playing field and helicopter landing pad, off Extension St.
A statement released after the agreement signing ceremony on April 18 stated the team of Japanese consultants led by Dr Gunji, who was the Director of Japan’s Department of Public Health Administration, had been holding talks with officials in Fiji since April 9 of that year.
The team also conducted a field survey on the project site.
As a result of the discussion, it was agreed that major points of understanding had been reached between the team and the Fiji officials.
The statement stated the World Health Organization’s regional office for the Western Pacific held a series of meetings which resulted in a plan of action for the FSM to be developed as a centre for education for health personnel in the Pacific.
It stated the redevelopment project was aimed at improving and renovating clinical functions and teaching facilities at the CWM Hospital/FSM complex for health development for Fiji and its regional neighbours.
Under the agreement signed on April 18, a Japanese consultancy firm and a Japanese general contractor would be used for the construction and supply of materials.
The Fiji Government for its part had agreed to secure, clear and level land for the project.
