Gavin Whiteside, the CEO of ASPEN Medical, has acknowledged that significant improvements are needed at Lautoka Hospital. His comments follow a complaint from visitor Rakesh Sharma, who reported inadequate conditions in the Trauma Ward, citing a malfunctioning air conditioning unit, broken floor tiles, dirty ceiling fans, damaged armchairs, and old, worn-out mattresses. Mr. Sharma expressed that the overall atmosphere felt dreary.
In June, Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad informed Parliament that the government spends nearly $10 million monthly on services for patients at the Aspen-managed Ba and Lautoka hospitals, which account for more than one-fifth of the national health budget. He noted that in 2019, the Fiji National Provident Fund was directed to acquire an 80 percent stake in Health Care Fiji Pte Ltd (HCF) as part of a public-private partnership.
Under this partnership, Aspen pledged to deliver international standard healthcare to the Western Division. Whiteside emphasized that their strategy involves prioritizing and allocating resources in phases. He mentioned that improving healthcare requires substantial investment in modern equipment, enhancing staff skills, and expanding services, such as cardiac surgery and pediatric care.
The immediate priorities include a new roof for the entire hospital and major renovations to facilitate the installation of essential healthcare equipment, including an MRI and a catheterization lab, which will also enhance the Emergency Department. Whiteside reiterated that while progress has been made, more work lies ahead and he requested the community’s patience and support during this process.