Fiji’s hospitals are facing a significant shortage of beds, with an estimated shortfall of 2000 needed to adequately serve the country’s population. This concern was raised by Dr. Basharat Munshi, the outgoing president of the Fiji Medical Association, during the organization’s 63rd Annual Conference at the Hilton Resort.
Dr. Munshi pointed out that for Fiji’s current population, the healthcare system requires around 3000 beds. He stated, “We are short by 1500 to 2000 beds if I have to overestimate.” He also emphasized that meeting this requirement would necessitate an investment of approximately $4.46 billion to develop the level of care that is desired.
The situation at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM) remains particularly challenging due to ongoing issues with operating theatres. Dr. Munshi mentioned that the inability to perform elective surgeries is significantly limiting the hospital’s capacity to operate effectively, leaving many planned operations on hold while only emergency cases are being prioritized. Although elective surgeries are sometimes conducted at Oceania Hospital to alleviate the backlog, this solution comes with additional costs. He noted, “When our CT scan breaks down we outsource it and that puts a strain on our budget.”
Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, Dr. Munshi expressed hope that the recently launched CWM master plan would help address these pressing challenges. Minister for Health Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu confirmed that the master plan aims to tackle the issues highlighted by Dr. Munshi.