FIJI’S escalating HIV crisis has forced a major legislative response, with Parliament on Thursday passing the HIV/AIDS (Amendment) Bill 2026 as the number of new infections continues to surge.
Opposition MPs are questioning whether Government’s emergency response is moving fast enough.
The legislation clears the way for expanded harm-reduction measures, including the provision of sterile needles and syringes, as Government confronts 2016 new HIV diagnoses recorded in 2025 — a 27 per cent increase from the previous year.
But Opposition MP Premila Kumar warned that passing legislation alone would not be enough to contain what Government has declared a national emergency.
“If HIV is a national emergency, the response must look and feel like one,” Ms Kumar said.
She questioned why only 60 of 156 required positions had been filled and raised concerns over the pace of spending on approved HIV funding.
Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa defended the Government’s approach, saying: “The legislation needs to be in place before we roll out any government policy.”
Mr Ravunawa said the passage of the amendment authorised harm reduction, including the provision of sterile needles and syringes.
He said Cabinet had also approved the Fiji National HIV Outbreak Response Plan and Budget 2026–2031, backed by a minimum indicative five-year funding envelope of $58.5 million and 156 positions.
“Government did not bring this measure forward lightly. We brought it forward because the evidence requires us to act.”
Mr Ravunawa said HIV demanded a “whole-of-country” response and supported a standing parliamentary mechanism to maintain scrutiny of the crisis.
