The Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital in Suva is set to improve its medical services significantly, thanks to a substantial investment from Australia. An announcement was made regarding a $14.7 million contribution for the hospital’s redevelopment master plan.
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, who is attending the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Affairs Meeting in Suva this week, highlighted the necessity of updating the CWM Hospital. She stated, “Australia is investing $14.7 million to develop this master plan.”
The aim of this investment is to create a comprehensive blueprint for the hospital, which will ensure continuous services and upgrade the facility into a modern medical center. The Australian firm JohnStaff International Development (JID) will lead the development of this master plan, which is projected to take 12 to 14 months.
Wong mentioned that the master plan being developed with JohnStaff and its partners would cater to Fiji’s future health requirements, including workforce needs and the infrastructure necessary for a high-quality national referral hospital. She emphasized, “If you walk through this hospital and talk to staff members, it’s clear that we can’t wait for the completion of that process.”
Additionally, Australia has pledged to conduct an urgent and thorough engineering assessment of the current hospital infrastructure, ensuring it remains operational during the development of the master plan.
Wong expressed Australia’s commitment to enhancing health services and fostering inclusive opportunities, stating, “Australia is pleased to deliver on this work and we want to keep working with you.”
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka praised the Australian government’s timely support, emphasizing the strong partnership between Australia and Fiji. “We are very grateful towards the Australian government for giving us money to be able to redevelop our hospital,” he remarked.
Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, the Minister for Health and Medical Services, confirmed the signing of the agreement with the Australian government, indicating progress towards redevelopment. He noted the need for careful planning to address the hospital’s infrastructure while maintaining service delivery.
Alison McKechnie, the winning tender’s CEO, affirmed that prioritizing the redevelopment master plan will ensure high-quality healthcare for Fijians. She acknowledged the commitment of the Fijian Government to this crucial project, highlighting the strong ties between both nations. The CWM Hospital Master Plan is expected to outline a transformative vision for the future of healthcare in Fiji.