AG confirms upgraded Ba and Lautoka hospitals to open in a few months and provide open-heart surgeries

Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has confirmed that a team from Aspen Medical is in Fiji and is upgrading the Ba and Lautoka hospitals to offer open-heart surgeries and other life-saving treatment.

He has tweeted that doors open in a few months.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds this is great news as, after two years of pandemic-imposed delays, open-heart surgeries and other life-saving treatments are on their way to being provided in Fiji.

In February 2019, Sayed-Khaiyum assured parliament that the current rates or fees paid by people for services at the Ba or Lautoka hospitals will remain the same after the signing of the public-private partnership agreement for the hospitals with Aspen Medical Limited.

He had told parliament that Healthcare Fiji Limited signed the concession.

FNPF owns 80 percent of Healthcare Fiji Limited while Aspen Medical Limited owns 20 percent.

It is Aspen Medical Limited that will be the medical provider that will manage the Lautoka and Ba hospitals.

Sayed-Khaiyum had said that FNPF is going to lend money to Healthcare Fiji Limited which will make money and give returns.

He had said in 2019 that as part of the requirement, Aspen Medical Limited will have to start operating the Ba and Lautoka Hospitals within 6 months of the agreement.

Another condition of the agreement is to construct a 305-bed hospital next to the current site within 36 months.

Providing 24/7 heart surgery was also a condition.