Blackrock Medical Center in Votualevu, Nadi has been closed to civilian patients until further notice after the Republic of Fiji Military Forces directed the facility be used to support security personnel engaged in joint anti-drug operations with the Fiji Police Force, the Ministry of Health & Medical Services said.
The Ministry’s statement confirmed the temporary re-designation of the private clinic to provide care and treatment for members of the security services involved in the ongoing illicit drug operations. “In light of RFMF’s joint illicit drug operations with the Fiji Police Force, the Blackrock Medical Center will be designated to support the care and treatment of security personnel,” the ministry said, adding that the closure to civilians will remain in effect until further notice. The ministry also apologised for any inconvenience and thanked the public for their understanding.
Members of the public who would normally seek care at Blackrock Medical Center are being directed to alternative services in Nadi, including Nadi Hospital and the Nadi Health Center located at the Sarada Building in Nadi Town. The Ministry did not provide details on how long the re-designation is expected to last, what additional capacity those alternative facilities may need to absorb, or whether emergency ambulance services will be re-routed.
The move is the latest development in an intensifying nationwide response to illicit drugs that has seen closer co-ordination between the Fiji Police Force and the military. Earlier reporting has documented recent raids and investigations tied to the wider anti-drug campaign, including police operations in locations such as Delainavesi and government efforts to strengthen institutional responses — from recruitment for the new Counter Narcotics Bureau to international co-operation agreements with counterparts in Indonesia.
Local healthcare access in Nadi may be affected while security operations continue. Nadi Hospital, already the main public referral hospital for the area, and the Nadi Health Center will likely face increased patient loads if the Blackrock closure persists. The Ministry’s notification did not outline plans for expanding capacity or deploying additional staff to those facilities, nor did it specify whether private insurance arrangements or scheduled outpatient appointments at Blackrock would be accommodated elsewhere.
Officials have framed the temporary reallocation of the clinic as necessary to support front-line personnel undertaking joint drug interdiction efforts. As the operations proceed, further updates from the Ministry of Health, the Fiji Police Force, and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces can be expected to clarify the timeline for reopening Blackrock Medical Center to civilians and the broader implications for health services in the Nadi region.