Outpatient medicines will no longer be dispensed at Lautoka and Ba hospitals, the government confirmed, aligning the move with the original concession agreement signed with Health Care Fiji (Pte) Ltd. Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister, Professor Biman Prasad, said negotiations with Aspen Medical and HCF are ongoing, and the change is a consequence of the agreement that did not include outpatient medicines, which had been supplied at a significant cost to the government.
Under the new arrangement, inpatients at Lautoka and Ba hospitals will continue to receive all medicines and consumables through the hospital. The concession agreement envisaged that the government would set up a public dispensary to provide outpatient medicines, so Aspen was not required to provide these services. The government’s plan follows an early handover of the hospitals by the previous administration, with transitional arrangements now being implemented.
The Ministry of Health is now dispensing outpatient medicines through several channels in the Western Division, including the Western Health Divisional office in Vidilo House, Kamikamica Health Centre, Punjas Health Centre, a dispensary outside Ba Hospital, and private pharmacies participating in the Free Medicine Scheme. During the transition, the government is working on establishing additional dispensary centers, with a permanent medicine dispensary planned for Lautoka and Ba hospitals in the near future.
Prasad stressed that, as part of the concession agreement, HCF is not required to provide outpatient medicines, since the government will operate public dispensaries. He noted that the move is being implemented to align with the concession terms and the government’s public-health objectives.
Context from observers and health groups shows there is ongoing dialogue about the impact of the changes. The Ministry has faced questions from medical associations and pharmacists about capacity in private pharmacies to handle increased demand, especially for critical medications such as insulin and cancer therapies. While officials emphasize that the shift is not driven by budget constraints but by contractual terms, many stakeholders are calling for careful monitoring to ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines.
Broader reform efforts are in play, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka having previously signaled steps to bolster medicine supply through supplier agreements aimed at reducing shortages. The shift to public dispensing and the expansion of the Free Medicine Scheme are seen by officials as part of a longer-term plan to stabilize access to medications across Fiji, though challenges in logistics and distribution remain.
What this means for patients
– Outpatient medications will be available through designated public dispensaries and participating private pharmacies in the Free Medicine Scheme, rather than directly from the hospital outpatient departments.
– If you need outpatient medicines, check which location you should visit (dispensaries at Ba Lautoka area, Kamikamica Health Centre, Punjas Health Centre, Vidilo House, or private pharmacies in the Free Medicine Scheme).
– Inpatients will still receive medicines through the hospital, and the government plans to open permanent dispensaries at Lautoka and Ba for outpatient needs.
Summary
The move to end hospital-based outpatient dispensing at Lautoka and Ba aligns with the concession agreement and shifts outpatient medicines to public dispensaries and participating pharmacies. While negotiations with Aspen Medical and HCF continue, the government is expanding dispensary networks and reiterating a commitment to maintain access through the Free Medicine Scheme, with hopes that ongoing reforms will address shortages and improve overall healthcare delivery in Fiji.
Additional note
Readers should stay tuned for updates on the rollout timetable and any adjustments to the Free Medicine Scheme, as health authorities and professional bodies monitor patient access and supply across the Western Division.
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