Health has topped the list of public priorities for Fiji’s 2026–2027 National Budget, according to the latest Dialogue Fiji Public Priorities Survey, with nearly half of respondents placing the sector among their top three concerns. The survey found 47.9 per cent of participants included health in their top three priorities, and 21.3 per cent named it their single most urgent priority.
“Health dominates the budget priority landscape,” the report said, noting strong public demand for improved services and access. Crime and drug prevention was the second most frequently selected sector, at 38.4 per cent, followed by roads and infrastructure (29.9 per cent), education (28.6 per cent) and job creation (26.5 per cent). When asked for a single top priority, crime and drug prevention was second at 16.8 per cent — meaning the two issues together account for more than a third of single-priority responses.
Dialogue Fiji’s analysis describes a clear two-tier pattern in public concern. After the leading trio of health, law-and-order and infrastructure, a second grouping drew smaller but notable support: social welfare and poverty reduction (10 per cent), job creation (9.6 per cent) and education (8.8 per cent). The survey also recorded interest in other areas such as housing, water and sanitation, and support for small businesses, reflecting diverse household pressures.
“Health is not merely frequently mentioned but deeply prioritised,” the report said, underscoring expectations for more resources targeted at services and access. Dialogue Fiji urged budget decision-makers to reflect these public expectations in fiscal choices. “The results present a clear and compelling hierarchy,” the organisation added, calling for resource allocation that addresses the urgency of health services while also tackling law and order and economic pressures.
The survey’s timing places it squarely in the lead-up to budget planning, increasing pressure on the Finance Minister and line ministries to reconcile rising public demand with fiscal constraints. Earlier this year the Ministry of Health and Medical Services moved to centralise overtime approvals after identifying overspending on staff overtime, a measure aimed at tightening budget controls. That decision highlights the balancing act policymakers face: responding to calls for better health services while ensuring sustainable spending.
The Dialogue Fiji findings suggest households are prioritising basic service delivery and safety as economic and social pressures mount. With health singled out by a substantial share of respondents, the survey sets expectations that the 2026–2027 Budget will need to show concrete commitments to strengthen the health system alongside measures to address crime prevention, infrastructure and employment. The results are likely to shape debate in the weeks ahead as officials finalise allocations.