The Fiji Medical Association (FMA) president Dr. Basharat Munshi has announced that Fiji is in need of an additional 2,000 hospital beds to meet the demands of its growing population. While addressing the 63rd FMA Annual Conference in Nadi, Dr. Munshi emphasized that building the required medical infrastructure is a costly endeavor, estimating the necessary investment to be around 4.6 billion Fijian dollars.
He noted that while immediate action is not necessarily required, significant capital investment will be essential for the health system to reach its potential. Dr. Munshi pointed out ongoing challenges arising from inadequate resources, including issues with outdated infrastructure such as the operating rooms at CWM Hospital, which hinder the ability to perform elective surgeries.
To cope with these difficulties, some elective surgeries are being conducted at Oceania Hospital, although this solution incurs additional costs. Dr. Munshi also highlighted common problems like equipment breakdowns, which further strain the health budget, particularly when essential services like CT scans need to be outsourced due to malfunctions.
Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu, the Minister for Health and Medical Services, acknowledged the existing challenges within Fiji’s healthcare system at the conference. He underscored the importance of a robust public health and primary healthcare system, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to enhancing health standards with a concentration on these areas. The conference is set to conclude today.