A near death experience in 2023 and the difficulties people face in accessing medical care in Fiji has inspired Island Group of Companies Managing Director Azad Ali to start a mini private hospital in Suva.
Ali says he does not have a medical background even though his wife is an eye specialist but certain things made him venture into the medical business and medical tourism areas.
He says the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a lot of problems for people, especially those with eye problems as the eye departments at public hospitals were closed then.
Ali says they started Island Medical Centre around mid-2022, focusing on providing eye care only but he had a near death experience in late 2023 and went into a coma, however, doctors operated on him and removed the cancerous growth from his body and he is alive today.
The businessman says thinking about what he went through and the difficulties other people face in accessing medical care, he recruited a General Practitioner and started providing general medical care on 6th March this year.
He says he is now investing in a mini private hospital in Suva and the company has identified land on Extension Street for its construction. Ali says their lawyers are doing the necessary work to acquire the land while their architect is engaged in designing the mini private hospital buildings.
He says they plan to have three operating theatres for eye surgeries, general minor surgeries and the other for diabetics and their foot care.
The businessman further says Island Medical Centre has a very good record since its establishment and they want to maintain that and keep improving their services and giving the best to their patients.
He says they also use part of their profits and those given by some patients who had eye surgeries to assist patients who sometimes do not have the full amount for treatment.
Ali says the company does a lot of charity work and they always assist children in medical care, and senior citizens who are mostly the ones with eyesight problems or cataracts in their eyes.
He says that they are hopeful of starting the construction of the mini private hospital in the next few months, depending on how soon they can finalise the land deal and obtain the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities.
The businessman hopes to open the mini private hospital by next year.
Ali adds they are investing a couple of million dollars in the project.
Island Group of Companies currently owns Island Accommodation and Island Medical Centre which are also situated on Extension Street.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
