Australia Boosts Funding for CWM Hospital Upgrades!

The Australian Government has announced an allocation of $14.5 million to enhance critical infrastructure at the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital. This commitment was revealed by Ewen McDonald, Australia’s High Commissioner, during the launch of the CWM Hospital Priority Infrastructure Plan (PIP) Report.

The funding aims to address urgent repairs and infrastructure improvements outlined in the PIP report, which was compiled by technical experts and infrastructure engineers after conducting a thorough assessment of the hospital’s condition. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka praised this additional funding, acknowledging that historic neglect and inadequate planning had led to the deterioration of public infrastructure, including CWM Hospital.

Mr. Rabuka emphasized the government’s new focus on re-introducing regular maintenance budgeting to prevent future shortcomings, stating, “We spend more on building new infrastructure and neglect the old ones.”

In addition to the immediate upgrades for CWM Hospital, plans are also underway for a new national hospital. Mr. McDonald confirmed that site assessments for the new facility are already in progress, with a Master Plan expected to be completed next year. “This is a major undertaking, and we need to get it right to ensure Fiji’s new tertiary hospital meets the country’s future healthcare needs,” Mr. McDonald noted.

The Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s dedication to modernizing and maintaining healthcare facilities as part of its National Development Plan (2025-2029) and Vision 2050 strategy. He expressed satisfaction with the steady progress on improving CWM Hospital and acknowledged the contributions of Joint Staff International Development in facilitating the project, as well as the ongoing support from the Australian Government through the Vuvale Partnership.

This announcement signals a positive step toward enhancing Fiji’s healthcare infrastructure, crucial for meeting the demands of a growing population and ensuring better health outcomes for the community. By investing in both existing facilities and future projects, there is hope for a more effective healthcare system in Fiji.