As New Zealand prepares to relax visitor visa requirements for Pacific Island nationals, a private hospital in Fiji is seizing the opportunity to promote itself as an accessible destination for high-quality medical care. Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH), located conveniently across from Nadi International Airport, is targeting Australian and New Zealand patients who seek affordable treatment options without the long wait times often experienced at home.
Parvish Kumar, founder and CEO of PSH, expressed enthusiasm about the recent changes announced by Immigration New Zealand, which will allow visitors from Pacific Island nations to enter the country multiple times within a 24-month visa period starting from July 6, 2025. “We welcome this initiative from New Zealand and invite Kiwis to consider Fiji for their medical needs,” Kumar stated, noting that New Zealanders can stay up to four months in Fiji visa-free.
The hospital has a strong focus on cardiology, addressing the growing concerns regarding cardiovascular diseases, which remain the leading cause of death in both New Zealand and Australia. PSH boasts newly established facilities including a catheterization lab and advanced operating theatres, which allow the hospital to provide world-class open-heart procedures at significantly lower costs than those typically found in New Zealand and Australia, and importantly, with no waiting list.
The initiative aligns seamlessly with the Fijian Government’s broader strategy to elevate medical tourism within the Pacific region. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka emphasized the importance of developing medical tourism infrastructure, drawing inspiration from countries like India that attract numerous patients from the Pacific Islands each year. In fact, around two percent of visitors to Fiji in 2022 arrived for health-related reasons—a figure that indicates substantial growth potential in medical tourism.
To incentivize private sector involvement in this burgeoning industry, the Fijian government has introduced tax concessions and investment allowances for healthcare infrastructure. This encouragement is expected to bolster the capacity and quality of medical services offered by local healthcare facilities.
Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji, commended PSH for its successful implementation of high-quality medical procedures, particularly following a series of successful open-heart surgeries that have taken place since November 2024. Dr. Ram Raju, president of the Nadi Chamber of Commerce, echoed a call for greater regional collaboration, urging Australia and New Zealand to consider granting visa-free travel to Fijians and other Pacific Islanders to strengthen economic connections, including in the medical tourism sector.
This endeavor to establish Fiji as a healthcare hub not only presents a promising future for medical tourism but also enhances the overall healthcare landscape for both locals and international visitors, combining quality care with the allure of a tropical holiday. With its commitment to affordability and accessibility, Fiji is poised to emerge as a leading destination for health-related travel in the region.
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