Representatives and health officials from across the Pacific gathered in Nadi today for the launch of the Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation (PHIT) project, officiated by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
The project is backed by an investment of $239.5 million and will be implemented in partnership with Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, and regional organisations, aiming to improve health standards across the Pacific.
Speaking at the launch, World Bank Country Manager for the South Pacific, Stefano Mocci says the initiative goes beyond funding and focuses on transforming health systems by prioritising prevention and people-centred care.
He added that the project will also support major upgrades in Fiji, including a new radiotherapy centre at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.
Mocci said PHIT represents a new approach to regional cooperation and is the first project under the Full Mutual Reliance Framework between the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, designed to reduce bureaucracy, cut costs, and speed up delivery.
The Prime Minister says the project reflects the region’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare, strengthening primary care, addressing non-communicable diseases, modernizing infrastructure, and improving workforce capacity.
He added that PHIT will provide a regional platform to drive these priorities through coordinated investment, technical support, and shared learning.
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