Johnstaff International Development (JID), an Australian-owned company, has been chosen to execute the $14.7 million redevelopment master plan for the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH). The announcement was made by Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong during a ceremony held at the CWMH’s Peace Garden, after she toured the hospital’s Emergency Department, radiology, and Maternity Ward.
Wong acknowledged the challenges faced by the hospital, including the growing demand for services, the rise in non-communicable diseases, the effects of demographic changes, and the impact of the drug epidemic. She stated that Johnstaff International Development was selected to deliver the master plan after a competitive procurement process, collaborating with partners including GHD, Silver Thomas Hanley, and International SOS Australasia.
Australia is committing $14.7 million to develop this master plan, which will address the future health needs of Fiji and the necessary workforce and infrastructure for a high-quality national referral hospital. Wong also mentioned that there would be an urgent and detailed engineering assessment of the existing hospital buildings to ensure they continue to serve the people of Fiji during the master plan’s development and implementation.
The completion of the master plan is expected to improve health services in Fiji. Alison McKechnie, director and acting CEO of JID, emphasized the importance of working closely with sub consultants to create a master plan that ensures the development of a future-ready national referral hospital. She acknowledged that the process would be challenging and time-consuming, highlighting the need for broad consultation to ensure all voices are heard.
Health Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu thanked the Australian Government for its support and expressed gratitude that the project is finally moving forward.