The Government says major investments under the Pacific Healthy Island Transformation Project will focus on building climate-resilient and digitally enabled healthcare facilities across Fiji.
Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel told Parliament that the initiative forms part of a broader regional health project financed through loans and grants worth around FJD582 million.
Immanuel said Fiji signed a USD50 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank in April this year to support the programme.
“Telemedicine will be adopted in major health centres to improve service delivery, while we will also undertake major investments in skills development,” he said.
The Finance Minister said 17 healthcare facilities around the country would be upgraded to provide climate-resilient and digitally enabled essential healthcare services.
“These centres include Naililili in Rewa, Bua, Tukavesi in Cakaudrove, Vunitogoloa in Ra, Nuku-i-Lau in Navosa, Balevuto in Ba, Nasele in Kadavu, Vacalea and Kavala in Kadavu, Kabara in Lau, Valelevu, Raiwaqa, Nakasi, Lami, Nausori, and Kamikamica Health Facility in Lautoka, benefiting over 275,000 people,” Immanuel said.
He said the project would also deliver Fiji’s first radiotherapy centre in Suva to provide cancer treatment services locally.
Immanuel added that rehabilitation works would also be undertaken at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital using modular technology to improve capacity and services.
He said the investment would complement Australian Government-supported planning work for the future redevelopment and relocation of CWM Hospital, with Valelevu Ground already identified as the proposed new site.
