Johnstaff International Development (JID), an Australian-owned company, has been awarded the task of executing a $14.7 million redevelopment master plan for the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH). The announcement was made by Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong during a ceremony held at the CWMH’s Peace Garden, following a brief tour of the hospital’s Emergency Department, radiology, and Maternity Ward.
Minister Wong acknowledged the various challenges faced by the hospital, including rising demand for services, an increase in non-communicable diseases, demographic shifts, and the influence of the drugs epidemic. She stated that after a competitive selection process, Johnstaff International Development was chosen to lead the CWM Hospital master plan in collaboration with partners GHD, Silver Thomas Hanley, and International SOS Australasia.
Wong highlighted that the Australian government is investing $14.7 million into the development of this master plan, which will assess Fiji’s future health needs and outline the necessary workforce and infrastructure for a national referral hospital. She also noted the commitment to conduct a thorough engineering assessment of the current hospital buildings to ensure they can continue to serve the community during the development and implementation of the master plan.
Wong emphasized that the completion of this initiative would lead to improved health services across Fiji. Alison McKechnie, JID director and acting CEO, stated that the team would collaborate closely with sub-consultants to create a master plan that positions the hospital for future success. She acknowledged that the project would be complex and time-consuming and stressed the importance of broad consultation to ensure all voices are heard.
Health Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu expressed gratitude for the support from the Australian Government, noting that the ministry is pleased to see this project progressing.