Government allocates $12M per month to Ba and Lautoka Aspen Hospitals – Dr. Lalabalavu

The Government is paying $12 million per month to Lautoka and Ba Public-Private Partnership hospitals to ensure continued services, following concerns over the handover of these hospitals to Aspen.

Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu raised this in Parliament after End of the Week Statement by Opposition MP, Alvick Maharaj on the health sector.

He emphasised that the health sector has been a topic of discussion since their time in opposition and remains a critical issue today.

Dr. Lalabalavu says the government is making significant efforts to improve Fiji’s healthcare system, addressing delays in repairs as one of the key priorities within the Ministry.

He says the government is committed to improving the arrangements with the Public Private Partnerships, engaging in close discussions and collaborations with all relevant stakeholders to address the terms of previous contracts.

While delivering his End of the Week Statement, Opposition MP, Alvick Maharaj criticised the state of Fiji’s healthcare, claiming it has been in decline for years.

Maharaj says the government has failed to ensure a healthy population and provide world-class healthcare facilities.

He pointed to two private hospitals operating under the PPP model, namely Sri Satya Sai Sanjeevani Children's Hospital and Aspen Medical Hospital, as successful examples.

The MP also raised concerns about the malfunctioning biomedical equipment at CWM Hospital, particularly the lithotripsy machine used for kidney stone treatment, which has been out of service for months.

He further says this needs immediate attention.

Despite these challenges, Maharaj acknowledged the efforts of Healthcare Fiji Limited, under Aspen Medical, to improve infrastructure and provide quality care.

He praised Sri Satya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital for performing life-saving heart surgeries for 363 children, as well as offering 27,251 free heart screenings and 38,888 free medical consultations.

In response, Dr. Lalabalavu assured that the government is listening to the concerns raised, noting that they have provided a $4 million grant to support ongoing healthcare services.

He also clarified that Fiji’s pharmaceutical and biomedical supplies have a budget of $95 million, asserting that supply shortages should not be an issue.

He adds the government is dedicated to enhancing healthcare services and ensuring proper medical supplies to deliver world-class care to our citizens.