The Fijian government has indicated that there are currently no plans to establish a dedicated cancer treatment hospital in the country. During a parliamentary session, Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu emphasized that key cancer treatment services are available at major hospitals.
He explained that the government, in collaboration with Aspen and Healthcare Fiji Ltd, has plans to set up a radiotherapy center at Lautoka and Ba Hospital under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Dr. Lalabalavu noted that creating such a center is a significant financial undertaking.
The minister highlighted that while the plan for the radiotherapy center is in progress, existing treatment options remain in place. To enable the introduction of radiotherapy services in Fiji, the government is currently reviewing the Radiation Health Act of 2009.
Furthermore, Dr. Lalabalavu detailed that collaborative efforts are ongoing between Lautoka Hospital and the International Energy Agency to advance the radiotherapy treatment center project. He reiterated the necessity for local legislation to meet international standards in order to facilitate the launch of radiotherapy services, stating that the ministry is actively working on these alignments.