Health

A country’s health care system consists of both the public and private sectors, with the private one increasingly complementing public services. As countries in the developing world become wealthier their citizens may choose to use private health services to address their health needs. As a result, the private health sector in emerging markets can offer attractive returns to investors – from both the commercial and social perspectives.

Fiji’s Constitution embeds the right to health as a fundamental right for all citizens. The Constitution also imposes a duty on the State to take all reasonable measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realisation of the right of every person to good health, to provide adequate conditions and facilities necessary to good health, and to ensure access to health care services, including reproductive health care.

Fiji’s health care system consists of both the public and private sectors, with private services playing a complementary role to those delivered in the public sector. Growth in demand for privately-provided services is expected to continue as Fiji’s economy develops and the country’s GDP rises.

In Fiji, as elsewhere in the developing world, life expectancy is increasing. At the same time, more people are living with long-term, non-fatal conditions such as diabetes which require ongoing monitoring and management. Demand for non-urgent (elective) surgical procedures as a result of growth in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases is also anticipated to increase. A sharper focus on disease prevention is also expected to lead to greater demand for screening as well as goods and services that support healthier lifestyles. As a result the private health sector in emerging markets can offer attractive returns to investors – from both commercial and social perspectives.

In terms of major health infrastructure Fiji has three divisional hospitals, 18 sub-divisional hospitals, 84 health centres and 98 nursing stations around the country. In addition, two specialised hospitals and two private hospitals deliver a range of primary and specialist healthcare services. The three divisional hospitals are; Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) in Suva, Lautoka Hospital and Labasa Hospital. The two specialist hospitals are both in Suva; St. Giles Hospital and Tamavua/Twomey Hospital. Incentive package available to investments in retirement villages and aged care facilities’.‍

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OPPORTUNITIES

Our 884,887 residents and nearly 800,000 tourists create a sizeable potential market of over 1.6 million people.
Extensive tax exemptions are offered for businesses to set up private hospitals and ancillary pathology and radiology laboratories.
Currently most patients from Fiji and other Pacific Island countries who seek overseas specialist treatment travel to Australia or New Zealand where services can be costly. Cheaper specialized medical treatment is offered in India but the travelling time and cost is a disadvantage.
Although Fiji has reasonably extensive private primary care services offered by general practitioners and pharmacies the extent of private sector secondary/tertiary care is currently limited with only two private hospitals in Fiji.
Fiji offers a pristine and healthy environment for after care health services so opportunities exist for medical tourism and retirement care.
Potential exists for pharmaceutical manufacturing plants to be set up as most products are currently imported.
Fiji’s Constitution embeds the right to health as a fundamental right for all citizens.
Of the total population, 29% is under 15 years of age and 9% is over 60 years of age. The urban population currently stands above 56% of the total population and the fertility rate in is 2.5 births per woman which provides opportunities for wide range of health care services.