Health Budget expected to focus on COVID-19 and continuing high-quality medical services

The 2020/2021 National Budget is expected to continue to focus on the strengthening of the capacity of doctors and nurses to combat COVID-19 and keep themselves and Fijian families safe.

Another 40 million dollars was allocated in the 2019/2020 COVID-19 Response Budget to enhance the health system’s capacity to respond to the pandemic.

This was on top of the 349.8 million dollars allocated to the health sector in the 2019/2020 financial year.

The 2020/2021 National Budget is also expected to focus on continuing to ensure high-quality medical services and health education reaches every Fijian community, no matter how remote.

$34.7 million was allocated to the Health Ministry for capital expenditure in the 2019/2020 National Budget.

This includes the continuing extension of the CWM Hospital Maternity Unit.

Construction of the CWM Hospital Maternity Unit started in 2018.

7.5 million dollars was also allocated to upgrade the Keiyasi Health Centre into a Sub-Divisional Hospital to meet the demand for health services in light of the increased population there.

The Health Ministry has confirmed that this project is nearing completion.

More than 31,000 people are currently benefitting from the Free Medicine Program and this is also expected to continue.

This program which got funding of 23.7 million dollars in this financial year assists Fijians with an annual income below $20,000.