A family in Lautoka is urgently calling for intervention from the Ministry of Health and Lautoka Aspen Hospital concerning a troubling medical situation involving their 52-year-old relative, Venda Wati. Following a procedure intended to correct a dislocated hip, Mrs. Wati is now bedridden due to a subsequent broken bone.
Ashok Kumar, her husband, shared the distressing story of his wife who had undergone a total hip joint replacement on September 26, 2025, in New Delhi for severe osteoarthritis. Upon her return to Fiji, she arrived at Lautoka Aspen Hospital on October 22 with a dislocated hip joint that had reportedly been out of place for about a week.
The next day, a gentle closed reduction procedure was performed to reposition the joint, but during this procedure, Mrs. Wati suffered a Vancouver Type B periprosthetic fracture, indicating a serious break around the implant. Documentation from Aspen Medical confirmed that the necessary treatment for her condition could not be performed locally.
The family reached out to the Pasifika Medical Association Group (PMAG) of New Zealand, which oversees the New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme (NZMTS), aimed at assisting patients in Pacific nations, including Fiji, needing specialized care unavailable at home. As part of this process, PMAG requires formal verification from the Ministry of Health before moving forward with Mrs. Wati’s case for treatment in New Zealand.
While Aspen Medical has indicated that a specialist would be available by late January, the Kumar family expressed that the wait is untenable given Mrs. Wati’s ongoing pain and suffering. They submitted relevant documentation to the Assistant Minister for Health on December 1, 2025, but have not yet received a response, intensifying their plea for immediate assistance.
Describing the change in his wife’s condition, Mr. Kumar recounted, “When I took my wife to Lautoka Hospital, it was only a dislocated hip. They said they would take her to the theatre and relocate it. When they did, on day four, we discovered the bone was broken.” Subsequently, Mrs. Wati has become completely immobile, requiring extensive care at home, including the use of a diaper and sponge baths.
The family opted to take her home after hiring an ambulance for $275 due to concerns about the nursing care she received at the hospital. Having already spent nearly $50,000 on the initial surgery in India, they now face additional costs exceeding $100,000 for accommodation and travel in New Zealand for her treatment.
“This is a serious case; all we want is a response from the ministry,” Mr. Kumar urged.
A spokesperson for Aspen Medical acknowledged that discussions are ongoing with Mrs. Wati’s family but reiterated their policy of maintaining patient confidentiality and refraining from giving specific details to the media. Efforts to receive comments from Health and Medical Services Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu and Assistant Minister Penioni Ravunawa went unanswered.
This family’s ordeal highlights the urgent need for responsive healthcare support and timely intervention in serious medical cases.
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