Fiji’s healthcare system is facing a significant shortfall in hospital beds, with a reported deficit of 1500 to 2000 beds necessary to adequately support the country’s population, according to Dr. Basharat Munshi, the outgoing president of the Fiji Medical Association. He made these remarks during the association’s 63rd Annual Conference held at the Hilton Resort.
Dr. Munshi emphasized that the ideal number of beds for Fiji’s current population would be around 3000. He estimated that bringing the healthcare infrastructure up to the desired standard would require an investment of approximately $4.46 billion.
Additionally, he pointed out ongoing challenges faced by the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM), particularly issues related to limited operating theater capacity. The hospital is currently prioritizing emergency cases, leaving many elective surgeries on hold due to a lack of available space. While elective surgeries have been performed at Oceania Hospital to alleviate some backlog, this solution comes with financial implications.
He also noted the challenges posed by equipment malfunctions, such as the breakdown of CT scans, which necessitate expensive outsourcing that further strains the healthcare budget. Dr. Munshi expressed hope that the recently launched CWM master plan will address these ongoing issues.
Health Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu affirmed that the CWM master plan aims to tackle these challenges effectively.