Health has emerged as the top priority for Fiji’s 2026–2027 National Budget, according to the latest Dialogue Fiji Public Priorities Survey.
Nearly half of respondents — 47.9 per cent — included health among their top three priorities, making it the most frequently selected sector by a significant margin.
“Health dominates the budget priority landscape,” the report stated, noting strong public demand for improved services and access.
Crime and drug prevention ranked second, selected by 38.4 per cent of respondents, followed by roads and infrastructure (29.9 per cent), education (28.6 per cent), and job creation (26.5 per cent).
The survey indicates that while there is broad agreement on the top priorities, concerns remain diverse across other sectors, including social welfare, housing, water and sanitation, and support for small businesses.
When respondents were asked to identify a single top priority, the health sector maintained its lead, with 21.3 per cent naming it as their most urgent concern.
“Health is not merely frequently mentioned but deeply prioritised,” the report noted.
Crime and drug prevention followed at 16.8 per cent, meaning the top two issues together account for more than a third of all single-priority responses.
A second tier of priorities emerged, with social welfare and poverty (10 per cent), job creation (9.6 per cent), and education (8.8 per cent) each attracting around one in ten respondents.
Dialogue Fiji said the findings provide a clear signal to policymakers on public expectations ahead of the national budget.
“The results present a clear and compelling hierarchy,” the report said, urging that resource allocation reflect the urgency of health services while addressing law and order and economic pressures.
The survey highlights growing public demand for improvements across essential services, as households continue to face mounting economic and social challenges.
