A nationwide survey carried out by civic group Dialogue Fiji has set out clear priorities it says should shape the government’s 2026–2027 national budget, calling for immediate increases in health spending, targeted relief for households struggling with the cost of living, and a broader social approach to crime and drug prevention.
The report names health as the top budget priority for ordinary Fijians. “The qualitative evidence suggests the concern is not merely about budget quantum, but about the quality, accessibility, and reliability of health services,” Dialogue Fiji said, recommending the health sector receive at least 15 per cent of total expenditure. The submission singles out the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital in Suva for urgent refurbishment and re‑equipment, saying it “featured prominently in qualitative responses as an under‑resourced flagship facility.”
Dialogue Fiji emphasised that many respondents linked fiscal policy directly to household survival. While noting that “cost of living” is not a conventional budget line, the report states the evidence is “unambiguous” that Fijian households face acute financial distress and are looking to the budget for relief. The survey’s findings are intended to feed into budget planning and negotiations ahead of the 2026–2027 budget cycle, placing citizen priorities at the centre of policy choices on social services and support measures.
On law and order, the report calls for crime and drug prevention strategies that extend beyond policing. “The survey evidence strongly suggests that crime and drug prevention is perceived as a systemic social problem requiring both enforcement and social investment, not merely policing,” Dialogue Fiji wrote, urging investments in prevention, rehabilitation and social programmes alongside conventional enforcement efforts.
Infrastructure shortfalls also featured strongly. The survey found poor road conditions were the second most widely experienced household problem over the past year, with 38.4 per cent of respondents reporting it as a major issue. Dialogue Fiji highlighted that road and related infrastructure gaps are particularly acute in the Western and Northern divisions, making transport and access to services a persistent daily challenge for many communities.
The report frames its recommendations as grounded in citizen priorities aimed at improving service delivery, economic resilience and overall quality of life. By presenting concrete allocation targets — notably the 15 per cent health floor — Dialogue Fiji is signalling a shift from general calls for better services to specific fiscal demands for the upcoming budget process.
The survey’s publication represents the latest development in an emerging pattern of civil society inputs into budget planning, as ordinary Fijians seek a more direct voice in how public funds are prioritised. Government officials, including the Finance Minister, will now face pressure to respond to these citizen‑driven priorities as they prepare the 2026–2027 budget.