Serious concerns have been raised over the need for improved health services in Levuka, Ovalau, with pregnant women having to travel to the mainland for ultrasound scans and to access prescribed medication.
Speaking during the Fijian Media Association Levuka Town Hall session, Lina Anne highlighted that expectant mothers have had to travel to the mainland for ultrasound scans because the service is unavailable in Levuka.
She said this had been a longstanding issue for many pregnant women.
While the problem was temporarily addressed when a health official from Suva visited the island to provide the service, Anne said it has since stopped.
Anne says she is saddened that the service is no longer available, forcing women to bear the cost of travelling to the mainland for scans.
Responding to the concerns, Levuka Sub-Divisional Medical Officer Dr Malakai Ranuve confirmed that the hospital has an ultrasound machine but does not have a qualified technician based in Levuka.
He said the matter has been raised with the Ministry of Health and they are awaiting the appointment of a technician to the island.
Dr Ranuve confirmed that this situation has persisted for the past three years and, during this time, expectant mothers have had their boat fares covered to travel to the mainland for their scans.
Insert: Dr Ranuve on scans – 1 July 2026
Concerns were also raised about the lack of an ambulance and the occasional shortage of medication at Levuka Hospital, issues that residents say have caused significant hardship.
Dr Ranuve confirmed that the hospital does not have an ambulance and is currently using government vehicles to transport patients when necessary.
He also acknowledged that the hospital occasionally experiences medication shortages, requiring doctors to issue prescriptions instead.
The SDMO said Levuka has only one operational pharmacy, located at the hospital and when medicines are out of stock, patients are given prescriptions, which they often travel to the mainland to procure.
On the issue of an ambulance, Dr Ranuve assured residents that 10 new ambulances are expected to arrive with support from the Government of India, and the Minister for Health has assured him that Levuka will receive one.
Dr Ranuve also clarified that the Levuka mortuary is operational, having been commissioned last year with support from Ben Naidu and his company.
Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau and Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Mosese Bulitavu assured the residents and villagers of Ovalau that they will raise it with the line minister and see to it that it is addressed much faster.
