As cancer contributes to 11 percent of all deaths in Fiji, the Pacific Specialist Healthcare is planning to bring radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad highlighted this while launching the Pacific Specialist Healthcare Foundation in Nadi.
Professor Prasad says the Ministry of Health estimates that more than 1,400 cases of cancer are diagnosed in Fiji each year and it remains one of the top five causes of death.
He says the new planned radiotherapy treatment will help to treat Fiji’s cancer patients and avoid patients having to spend large amounts of money to be treated overseas.
The Deputy Prime Minister says the Foundation also aims to provide free or heavily subsidised complex medical procedures for the “poorest of the poor” in Fiji and across the Pacific.
He says the Healthcare has successfully commissioned a multi-million-dollar cardiology department and operations theatre that is already managing complex surgeries like brain tumour operations.
Professor Prasad says he is pleased that the Healthcare has successfully entered into a mutual partnership agreement with the Great Council of Chiefs, Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, Fiji Muslim League and the Fiji Council of Churches to make quality healthcare accessible and affordable to the masses.
He says the organization offers consultation fee of only $7.50 per visit to access world-class medical services at discounted rates and easy payment options to the faith-based and cultural organisations including their members while senior citizens above the age of 65 years are provided free service.
He says one of the Budget’s key priorities is health sector and like the Pacific Specialist Healthcare, the Government of Fiji has an obligation to provide public health service to the people, but as a public good.
The Deputy Prime Minister adds that they have a huge infrastructure deficit to address and the Government is committed to improving the standard of our health care facilities and taking care of the welfare of our doctors and nurses, as this will only contribute to improving the quality of our health services that the people deserve.
Meanwhile, the Healthcare CEO, Parvish Kumar says that quality healthcare is a right, not a luxury.
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