Urgent action is needed as Labasa Hospital has not been providing CT scan services for two years because they do not have adequate power supply for a new CT scan machine that is sitting at the hospital.
In July this year, a Labasa resident, Vinesh Prakash spoke out during the Fijian Media Association organised Meet the Public and the Media session in Labasa saying he needed clarity from the Ministry of Health on why the CT scan machine at Labasa Hospital is not operational.
Prakash said that when he took a patient, he was told that the machine is not operational because EFL is not supplying them enough power.
The Hospital Administrator then told the forum that the electrical upgrading is currently in progress, and the Ministry of Works is yet to complete phase one.
She could not give a definite timeframe but confirmed the CT scan machine has not been available for use for the past two years.
She also highlighted that Ministry of Public Works has said that it is a 2 year project.
Assistant Minister, Naisa Tuinaceva then said that the job is about to be completed however the Administrator said she has been told that the electrical upgrade work will be completed in 2 years.
EFL staff confirmed that they have issued the quotation, revised the quotation and are awaiting the payment, and once the payment comes in then they will start the works.
EFL said the timeline will be inserted in the quotation.
Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Biman Prasad said that this is something that needs to be sorted out immediately and they will discuss this issue with the Ministry of Health.
It has been almost 3 months since that FMA Town Hall session in Labasa.
When questioned by fijivillage News today, Minister for Health, Doctor Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu said that the new CT scan machine is in Labasa but unfortunately the hospital has not had an electrical system upgrade for a very long time.
He says as such they are mindful that their new equipment will need to be operational under an electrical system that will take care of the load.
The Minister says funding is not an issue as it was budgeted and they are following proper processes to facilitate the electrical upgrade.
Doctor Lalabalavu says the full electrical system upgrade will take about 2 years for the whole of Labasa Hospital but an immediate upgrade that will power the CT scan machine, lab equipment, incinerator, and the oxygen plant is now the current priority and will require a new transformer from EFL and power board installation by the Ministry of Works.
He says the latest brief says that the material from EFL is being planned to be shipped to Labasa this week before the work starts.
The current alternative is outsourcing CT scan services to Zen’s Medical Services.
fijivillage News has sent questions to the Minister for Public Works, Ro Filipe Tuisawau and EFL.
We are awaiting their response.
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