School of Medicine – Key developments, 1966–1986
Between 1966 and 1986, the Fiji School of Medicine (FSMed) underwent a transformative period characterised by curriculum reform, institutional restructuring, and strengthened regional engagement. These two decades positioned FSMed as the central hub for health professional training across the Pacific.
Foundations and expansion (1966–1973)
In 1966, the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics was established with support from the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, introducing dietetics as a professional discipline within FSMed.
The following year, Hoodless House was constructed by the Fiji Government on the grounds of the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital, providing both teaching and residential facilities for clinical students.
The opening of the University of the South Pacific (USP) in 1968 was a turning point, as USP assumed responsibility for the first year of medical and dental training.
By 1970, USP was actively considering a full takeover of FSMed. Entry standards were raised in 1972, requiring either a pass in Preliminary Science I at USP or the New Zealand University Entrance examination. Despite these reforms, FSMed continued to graduate students, with 195 completing the five-year program between 1956 and 1973.
Infrastructural growth and new programs (1974–1979)
The mid-1970s marked a period of infrastructural growth. In 1975, Hoodless House was expanded, and a three-year Medical Assistants’ course was introduced. By 1977, an amphitheatre had been constructed with support from the New Zealand Lepers Trust Board and the Government of New Zealand, coinciding with the graduation of the first Medical Assistants. Two years later, further extensions provided a new pathology laboratory and enhanced library facilities.
The Second Cole Report (1979) examined FSMed’s relationship with USP, paving the way for a more formal process of integration.
Restructuring and the MBBS transition (1980–1984)
In 1980, a Conjoint Committee comprising USP, the Ministry of Health, and FSMed was established to design a new Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program. That same year, FSMed celebrated a landmark achievement with its first graduate admitted to the Membership of the College of Radiologists of Australia.
By 1981, a Memorandum of Understanding between USP and the Ministry of Health formalised the awarding of an external MBBS degree through USP.
In 1982, the first intake of 36 MBBS students commenced training at FSMed after completing their Foundation Year at USP. Infrastructure upgrades, including the renovation of the physiology laboratory and anatomy museum, supported this transition.
Further academic restructuring followed the Hardy/Frank Report (1983), which recommended a reorganisation of FSMed. In 1984, governance reforms dissolved the Advisory Board and established an autonomous FSMed Council.
That year also marked the closure of the Diploma of Surgery and Medicine (DSM) program, which had produced 250 graduates since 1968, as well as the discontinuation of the Diploma of Dental Surgery (DDS). Thereafter, two dental students per year were sent to train at the University of Adelaide.
Centenary, new curricula, and regional leadership (1985–1986)
The School’s centenary in 1985 was initially overlooked but later commemorated in 1988. By that milestone, FSMed had produced 789 medical graduates over its 100-year history. The final DDS cohort also graduated in 1985, bringing the total to 146 dental graduates across 35 years.
That year, FSMed introduced a new MBBS curriculum, accompanied by reports from Biddulph and Boelen, which recommended closer amalgamation with USP. The School also extended its regional influence through a Medical Officers Training Programme for Micronesia, reinforcing its role as a Pacific training hub.
In 1986, a Master Plan for FSMed was prepared with support from the World Health Organization (WHO). The 11th Regional Conference of Permanent Heads of Pacific Health Services endorsed FSMed’s incorporation as a USP Faculty and recommended that dental training be transferred to the University of Papua New Guinea.
Legacy of the 1966–1986 era
Between 1966 and 1986, FSMed played a pivotal role in shaping healthcare across the Pacific. The School modernised its curriculum, strengthened institutional partnerships, and expanded access to medical education for Fiji and neighbouring island nations. By training doctors and allied health professionals locally, FSMed reduced reliance on expatriates while tailoring education to the region’s needs in tropical medicine and community-based care.
Many of its graduates went on to lead health systems in their home countries, making FSMed a cornerstone of Pacific self-sufficiency and leadership in healthcare.