Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) is planning to create a DNA library to store samples for future use.
This initiative was announced by PSH director and chief executive officer, Parvish Kumar, yesterday during the fifth MultiDisciplinary (Pacific) Conference at the Crowne Plaza Fiji, Nadi Bay Resort & Spa in Nadi.
“We are planning to set up a DNA library. Our aim is to obtain consent from parents at the time of childbirth to collect samples of their babies’ umbilical cords for storage in our lab,” Kumar explained.
“In the future, if parents or anyone else needs samples of the child’s DNA, it will be available in Fiji,” he added.
Additionally, Kumar mentioned that open-heart surgical procedures will begin within the next two to three weeks.
“Our entire open-heart surgical team is already in Fiji. They have been conducting revital exercises and testing all the systems. We plan to start open-heart surgeries around August 2-13,” Kumar said.
By offering these services in Fiji, Pacific islanders will no longer need to travel elsewhere for such treatments. “If there is another pandemic and borders are closed, our patients can still access these services in Fiji,” Kumar stated.
Pacific Specialist Healthcare is located in Legalega, opposite Nadi International Airport, and is the largest private hospital in the South Pacific.