THE construction of Fiji’s first national rehabilitation centre is now expected to be completed by mid-2028.
The head of the Rehabilitation Department at Tamavua’s Twomey Hospital, Dr Pratima Singh, confirmed the revised timeline, describing the project as “a step in the right direction” for national rehabilitation services.
“One of the reasons for this relocation of the rehab centre here was to allow the demolition of the old Tamavua Hospital for the construction of a National Rehabilitation Centre funded by the Korean Government at a cost of $US10million.”
Initially slated for completion by the end of 2027, the project timeline has now been extended to mid-2028.
The Government has since committed an additional $US5m to cover rising costs.
Dr Singh said the centre was not just a new building but a comprehensive package.
“It includes training of staff, upgrading building capacity and full equipment for the facility.
“The Korean Government will also provide six months of support towards the operationalising of the services from that centre.”
The facility is being developed with funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and is expected to significantly enhance the quality and accessibility of rehabilitation services across the country.
Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu also expressed strong support for the initiative.
“We eagerly anticipate the completion of Fiji’s first-ever National Rehabilitation Centre, generously funded by KOICA,” he said.
“This flagship facility will revolutionise the delivery of rehabilitation services in our nation, offering state-of-the-art care for individuals recovering from injuries, illnesses and disabilities.”
