The Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital in Suva is set to enhance its medical services significantly, with support from Australia amounting to $14.7 million for its redevelopment master plan. The announcement was made by Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, who is in Fiji attending the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Affairs Meeting in Suva.
Minister Wong highlighted the importance of renovating CWM Hospital, stating, “Australia is investing $14.7 million to develop this master plan.” This investment will create a comprehensive master plan aimed at maintaining uninterrupted services while transforming the hospital into a cutting-edge medical facility.
JohnStaff International Development (JID), an Australian-owned company, is leading the development of the master plan, which is anticipated to take between 12 to 14 months to complete. Wong noted, “The master plan that JohnStaff will develop and its partners will assist the future health needs of Fiji, its workforce, and the infrastructure required for a high-quality national referral hospital.”
Australia will also conduct a comprehensive engineering assessment of the current hospital structure, ensuring that it can continue to operate during the planning and implementation phases of the redevelopment. Wong expressed Australia’s commitment to improving healthcare services, saying, “We want to keep working with you to develop better services and more inclusive opportunities.”
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka praised the Australian government’s timely investment, reinforcing 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,” Rabuka stated.
Additionally, Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, the Minister for Health and Medical Services, announced that the agreement with the Australian government regarding the redevelopment had been finalized. He emphasized the challenges of providing services during the hospital’s repairs and the need for strategic planning to ensure continuity of care.
Alison McKechnie, CEO of the successful tendering company, expressed that the redevelopment master plan would be their main focus, ensuring Fijians receive top-quality healthcare. She acknowledged the collaboration between the Fijian Government and Australia, stating, “The CWM Hospital Master Plan will provide a blueprint for transformational change in the future of healthcare in Fiji.”