The government is set to launch a major $500 million health sector project to upgrade the Colonial War Memorial Hospital and improve other health facilities.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad confirmed this while launching two upcoming development projects.
Professor Prasad says that the government will soon sign the project for the CWM Hospital upgrade, which has been neglected for years.
During the 2025/2026 National Budget, Professor Prasad highlighted that they have also been working together with financiers led by the World Bank for a first phase financing package tentatively estimated at around $500 million for hospital upgrades.
He said that they are committed to moving the hospital out of the CBD and to a more accessible location for the people of the greater Suva-Nausori area.
Professor Prasad mentioned seven sites are currently under investigation, including Davuilevu, Tamavua, Raiwaqa, Samabula, Valelevu, Nabua and the existing CWM site.
He says they will need to increase the bed capacity from the current 453 beds at Fiji’s largest CWM hospital to 703 beds.
Professor Prasad stressed that they are committed to getting this done with the support of our development partners and multilateral financiers like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
Detailed engineering assessment of the existing CWM Hospital has been completed, and 27 key priority projects have been identified which will cost around $63 million, with an initial funding support of $15 million from the Government of Australia.
He further adds that more details on the project will be announced soon.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that these numbers are not just statistics, but represent a vibrant new chapter in Fiji’s economic journey.
