Increase in admission of people diagnosed with heart disease putting a strain on health system – Dr. Fong

There has been a rise in admission in the number of people diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome or heart diseases in the last few years that has put a pressure on the health system as it increases their requirements for appropriate tests, treatment, medicine and their rehabilitation process.

Acting Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says 82% of premature deaths in Fiji are related to Non-Communicable Diseases.

He has also highlighted that much like the rest of the world, there is a rise in the number of cases of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and cancer in the country.

Dr. Fong says there were 502 admission in 2015, 700 in 2016 and by 2018 there were 1,279 admissions and out of this, about 12% of them had major heart attacks and of these about 10% had died within 24 hours.

He says most of these people with heart disease have been found with major risk factors like smoking, unhealthy nutrition, obesity and lack of physical activity.

Doctor Fong says they want to focus a lot more on their ability to reach the people who need the service and has also reiterated that there is a need to get parents and school children on board so that they are more health conscious.