$10M earmarked for CWMH upgrades

$10 million has been earmarked for upgrading works at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital as part of providing better health care for the community.

This is according to Minister of Health Dr Neil Sharma.

The upgrades he said will see a fairly new and modern Accident and Emergency Unit which will be opened shortly.

Dr Sharma added amongst the outcomes of the upgrading projects are 11 operating theaters in total for CWMH, an addition of 46 new beds for the Namosi and Tailevu wards, and an automated system which will now increase the process of pap smears from 20,000 to 50,000.

With the 95% occupancy, he said these upgrades are critical.

Meanwhile, Doctor Sharma said the nurses must remember they are part of a privileged class.

He made this comment while answering questions raised by the Fiji Nurses Association on nurses not receiving a back pay in the last 10 years.

According to the minister, the nurses have received two pay increments including the one for this year.