Half of the eight operating theatres at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital are currently under renovation, with works now 90 percent complete as authorities move to improve surgical services and critical infrastructure at Fiji’s largest hospital.
Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says four operating theatres at CWM Hospital remain operational while the remaining four are undergoing upgrades being carried out by the Public Works Department.
Responding to questions from Opposition MP Virendra Lal on the status of the operating theatre, Dr Lalabalavu says the remaining works include medical gas piping installations and final defect corrections.
Dr Lalabalavu says the hospital upgrades form part of a broader $14.5 million Priority Infrastructure Plan supported by the Australian Government through DFAT.
He says the works are aimed at keeping CWM Hospital fully operational for the next seven to ten years while longer-term planning continues for the country’s future tertiary hospital facilities.
The infrastructure upgrades include urgent roofing repairs at both CWM and St Giles Hospital, improvements to acute patient wards, installation of a 100,000-litre filtered water tank to ensure stable clean water supply and sewer remediation works at the maternity building to address persistent blockages.
Lal also asked whether the renovation works had caused delays in surgeries and specialist services.
Dr Lalabalavu acknowledged there had initially been delays due to the reduced number of available theatres and a backlog of cases.
However, he says the Ministry has outsourced non-emergency and elective surgeries to private hospitals, significantly reducing waiting times, particularly in specialist areas such as orthopaedics.
Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj also raised concerns about worsening parking congestion around CWM Hospital during the renovation period, saying patients and staff are struggling to find parking.
In response, Dr Lalabalavu says parking considerations are expected to form part of the long-term master plan, which will also determine the future location and expansion plans for Fiji’s next tertiary hospital.
Concerns were also raised over emergency blood donation access in the West, after a question was raised regarding a reported case in which a donor travelling to Lautoka Hospital was delayed due to road works, and the patient later died.
Dr Lalabalavu says he would seek more information on the matter.
