Health Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu has urged patience from the public as he sought to clarify the nature of the capacity problems at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH), saying the constraint is physical space for beds rather than an outright shortage of beds. Speaking to this newspaper, Dr Lalabalavu also confirmed that double or bunk beds are not permitted at CWMH, reinforcing that only single beds are used within the facility.
“It is not an issue of the availability of beds, it is the space,” Dr Lalabalavu said, warning that the lack of floor space “is something that cannot be addressed overnight.” He said the ministry is proceeding with planned infrastructure work and service decentralisation to relieve pressure on the hospital while longer-term projects take effect.
To ease immediate demand on CWMH, the minister urged members of the public to use available services at satellite facilities, naming Wainibokasi and Korovou as locations where beds and treatment are currently accessible. He said referrals to CWMH will continue to be guided by bed availability and clinical triage, with emergency cases prioritised under the system in place.
Dr Lalabalavu outlined two major initiatives intended to transform capacity and infrastructure at the national referral hospital. The Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation (PHIT) project, a regional programme totalling US$239.5 million (about FJ$528 million), will support modernisation of Fiji’s healthcare infrastructure and is scheduled to run over six years, concluding in August 2030. Closer to CWMH, a CWMH Priority Infrastructure Plan — a $63 million roadmap — has identified 138 urgent repairs and upgrades needed to keep the hospital operational while a new national hospital is designed. First-phase upgrades under that plan are scheduled for completion by mid‑2026.
The minister said the ministry is also working to “build capacity with the satellite facilities around CWMH to take the load off,” indicating a two-pronged approach of immediate decentralisation of services and phased capital works at the hospital itself. He described the infrastructure fixes in the Priority Infrastructure Plan as essential stop-gap measures to maintain safe operations until larger-scale redevelopment is completed.
This statement is the latest development in an ongoing challenge for CWMH, which has faced periodic pressure as patient demand outstrips available ward space. By distinguishing space constraints from a literal lack of beds, the ministry seeks to explain why short-term fixes such as doubling up on beds are not being pursued, while outlining timelines and funding for more sustainable solutions. The public can expect phased upgrades to be delivered through mid‑2026, with broader PHIT-funded modernisation continuing to roll out toward its 2030 completion target.