Three Elevators Up at Fiji’s Colonial War Memorial Hospital as West Wing Lift Under Feasibility Review

Three of the four new elevators at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva are now installed and operating, according to Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has spent about $1 million on the project to upgrade the hospital’s aging infrastructure. The fourth lift is planned for the West Wing of the more than 100-year-old building, but engineers are conducting a feasibility study to determine whether the structure can support the new lift. Ravunawa said the study is underway and noted that alternative pathways to meet the hospital’s service needs are being considered in the meantime.

Context and outlook
This upgrade is part of a broader government push to modernize healthcare infrastructure in Fiji after years of criticism over malfunctioning lifts at CWM. Earlier reports indicated that four new elevators had been procured and would be installed, with engineers from OTIS on site to address issues and provide ongoing maintenance. The aging West Wing lift, which has been in service for more than 15 years, prompted the procurement and replacement plan.

Looking ahead, officials anticipate that once the West Wing lift is cleared for installation, the four-lift system will significantly ease patient transport, reduce delays for surgeries, and improve overall service delivery at the hospital. The initiative is viewed as a clear sign of the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare facilities nationwide.

In parallel with the elevator work, the CWM refurbishment program has progressed in other areas as well, including upgrades to theatres and kitchen facilities, underscoring a broad push to modernize the hospital’s infrastructure and improve patient care.

Summary
Progress continues on upgrading CWM Hospital’s elevator system, with three of four lifts installed and a feasibility check underway for the West Wing lift, signaling a positive step toward safer, faster patient care.

Additional notes
– The project reflects the government’s broader strategy to upgrade health facilities and restore confidence in essential hospital services.
– Monitoring the feasibility outcomes for the West Wing will be important to determine the timeline for completing all four elevators.