St Giles has the capacity, the afterward treatment of substance abuse is the challenge – Dr Lalabalavu

The St Giles Hospital has the capacity to take care of substance abuse patients, however, the gap lies in how they deal with patients afterwards.

This was highlighted by the Minister for Health, Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu while responding to Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya’s question if the St Giles Hospital has the capacity to look after substance abuse patients.

He says they are working with development partners to assist them in this area and also in the treatment of patients in the long term.

Dr Lalabalavu says patients seen at the hospital range from acute to chronic psychiatric illness, substance abuse, forensic and psychiatric cases.

The Minister says Fiji's development partners have come on board to assist them in upgrading the Women’s Eard, Moala Ward, and the administration building.

He says another significant work that has been completed is the tarsealing of the roads and carpark at the hospital, which cost over $235,000 as the road has not been repaired for a number of years.

Dr Lalabalavu says this has not only been a discomfort to passengers and vehicle owners but also to the staff that work and live within the vicinity of the hospital.

The Minister adds early this year, the Ministry constructed a new fence behind the Men’s Ward costing around $30,000 to improve the security of the admission facility and in this financial year, the Ministry has also allocated funding for the minor works allocation for further repair and renovation works of the hospital.