PACIFIC Specialist Healthcare (PSH) – the South Pacific’s largest specialist private hospital – has proposed tax incentives provision in Fiji’s next fiscal budget for health providers that serve both local and foreign patients.
PSH chief executive Parvish Kumar submitted this proposal at the PSH Hospital-sponsored Nadi Chamber of Commerce Business Forum 2025 last Friday.
He said today, the hospital was treating patients from Fiji, the Pacific, USA, Italy, Germany and Australia, adding this was medical tourism in motion.
However, he said for medical tourism to scale up, “we must look beyond infrastructure”.
“We need policy support, marketing partnerships with Tourism Fiji, streamlined visa facilitation and clear government-private hospital collaboration frameworks,” Mr Kumar said in his address.
Under tax incentives, he proposed for at least a VAT waiver or a VAT refund scheme as it was provided under the Tourist VAT Refund scheme.
He said VAT refund or waiver for medical tourism would give the industry further price point advantage on global platforms, and for locals, it would further reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.
Mr Kumar proposed medical investment incentives for local operators to further assist them in their healthcare development.
He also proposed State support for local charitable foundations that provide free medical procedures to the needy.
He said the forum’s theme ‘Fiji’s Economic Preview: The Next Fiscal Budget and Beyond’ was timely and vital “because if we are to envision a prosperous future for Fiji, we must first ensure that our people are healthy enough to contribute to it”.
Mr Kumar said the country’s health system faced pressure on many fronts, among it rising NCDs that continued to claim young lives, costing the local economy productive years; and many that still travel overseas for medical care, taking Fijian dollars out of the country.
He said every challenge in healthcare was also a call to innovate.
The PSH founder also announced the launch of its PSH Foundation – a platform to fund free surgeries for the poor, particularly those needing cardiac and neuro surgical interventions.
He said this venture was about economic inclusion and giving hope.
“We, therefore, seek the support of both government and corporate donors to champion this cause, and call for dedicated tax exemptions for companies contributing to such healthcare foundations.
“As we discuss the upcoming fiscal budget and beyond, let us remember health is not a line item.
“It is the foundation of every other sector – from tourism to agriculture to education.”
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated May 26, 2025
