The Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital in Suva is set to enhance its medical services significantly, thanks to a $14.7 million investment from Australia. The announcement was made by Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong during her visit to Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Affairs Meeting.
Wong highlighted the urgency for renovations at CWM Hospital and stated, “Australia is investing $14.7 million to develop this master plan.” This investment will create a comprehensive blueprint for the hospital, aiming to ensure seamless services while transforming it into a state-of-the-art medical facility.
The project will be led by Australian-owned JohnStaff International Development, with the master plan expected to take between 12 to 14 months. Wong pointed out the importance of this development for Fiji’s healthcare infrastructure, saying, “The master plan will assist the future health needs of Fiji, its workforce, and the infrastructure required for a high-quality national referral hospital.”
Additionally, Australia is committed to conducting a detailed engineering assessment of the existing hospital building, ensuring it can continue to operate during the redevelopment process. Wong expressed Australia’s dedication to improving healthcare services in Fiji, stating, “We want to keep working with you to develop better services and more inclusive opportunities.”
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka praised Australia’s timely assistance and reinforced the strong partnership between the two nations. He remarked, “We are very grateful towards the Australian government for giving us money to be able to redevelop our hospital.”
Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, the Minister for Health and Medical Services, confirmed the signing of the agreement with the Australian government and emphasized the need for a strategic approach to redeveloping the hospital while maintaining services during renovations.
Alison McKechnie, CEO of the winning tender, affirmed the project’s priority, underscoring its significance for high-quality healthcare in Fiji. She acknowledged the collaboration between the Fijian government and Australia and emphasized that the CWM Hospital Master Plan would facilitate transformative changes in the country’s healthcare system.