NADI-based Pacific Specialist Healthcare Hospitals (PSH Hospitals) founder and chief executive officer Parvish Kumar is calling for tax incentives in upcoming national budget to support medical tourism in Fiji.
In a statement this week confirming PSH Hospital’s sponsorship support of the upcoming Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) Business Forum scheduled to be held at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi next week, Mr Kumar said PSH is aligned to the Fiji government’s vision to develop the medical tourism sector and is all geared up deliver world-class health services at the most competitive and cost-effective rates.
“I am told this is a pre-budget forum so I am looking forward to connecting with the other esteemed speakers and guests during the business forum and plan to deliver a presentation as well,” Mr Kumar said.
“I will make a strong lobby for the waiver of Value Added Tax (VAT) from all medical services, consumables and equipment across the board and also propose massive tax incentives and refund rebates for medical tourists as that segment of the tourism sector has a huge potential for further growth especially with a resort-styled hospital set-up that we have.”
He said while the hospital has taken steps to promote medical tourism, what was needed was “support in terms of tax holidays to fully realise our dreams of becoming a lucrative medical tourism destination.”
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka who will be also speaking at the Business Forum had earlier voiced the Coalition Government’s interest in medical tourism.
“There is a need to develop Fiji’s health infrastructure to support locals and medical tourists,” Mr Gavoka said.
“Medical tourism involves traveling to another country for medical care, driven by factors such as cost-effectiveness, availability of treatments and quality of care.
“Fiji aims to emulate successful examples like India, which attracts many Fijians and Pacific Islanders annually for medical treatments. In 2022, approximately two percent of visitors engaged in health and medical activities in Fiji,” he added.
In its statement, PSH Hospitals said it had secured naming rights to next week’s Business Forum, whose theme is: “Fiji’s Economic Preview — the Next Fiscal Budget and Beyond”.
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated May 16, 2025
