The Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital in Suva is set to enhance its medical services significantly, following a $14.7 million investment from Australia aimed at its redevelopment master plan. This announcement was made by Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, who is currently in Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Affairs Meeting.
Wong highlighted the urgent need for the hospital’s renovations, stating that the investment would develop a master plan to ensure continuous services while transforming the facility into a modern healthcare center. The lead consultant for this project will be Australian-owned JohnStaff International Development, with the plan expected to take 12 to 14 months to complete.
“This master plan will address Fiji’s future health needs, workforce requirements, and the infrastructure necessary for a high-quality national referral hospital,” Wong remarked. She emphasized that improvements were essential, given the current state of the hospital.
Moreover, Australia is conducting an urgent engineering assessment of the existing hospital structure to ensure it can continue operations during the redevelopment process. Wong expressed her commitment to working with Fiji to enhance healthcare services and opportunities.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka praised Australia’s timely support, noting the strong partnership between the two countries. Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu confirmed that an agreement had been signed with Australia for the redevelopment and highlighted the challenge of maintaining services during upgrades due to space constraints.
Alison McKechnie, the CEO of the winning tender, emphasized the importance of the redevelopment plan to provide high-quality healthcare for Fijians and acknowledged the strong collaboration between the Fijian government and Australia, which this project exemplifies. The CWM Hospital Master Plan is expected to pave the way for transformational changes in Fiji’s healthcare system.