Healthcare Fiji (Pte) Ltd and the Government of Fiji are in talks to amend their Concession Agreement (CA), recognizing the need for updates following the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aspen Medical Fiji’s CEO, Gavin Whiteside, emphasized that the existing deal was established before the pandemic and does not adequately reflect the current healthcare landscape.
Whiteside pointed out that key amendments are necessary to ensure the agreement remains effective and relevant, especially considering the challenges posed by COVID-19. He shared that discussions to update the CA are progressing positively, with initial meetings held in Suva involving Government officials, including the Minister of Finance, Esrom Immanuel, and representatives from Aspen Medical and Healthcare Fiji. The goal is to finalize the updated agreement by March.
In addition to revising the CA, a critical point raised by Aspen Medical is the lack of ambulance housecall services provided by Lautoka and Ba hospitals. Whiteside indicated that while their current role is limited to facilitating patient transfers between these facilities, they are actively seeking to expand services to address public concerns regarding access to emergency medical care. This topic was a significant part of the discussions during the CA negotiations.
Minister Immanuel reiterated the importance of establishing a cooperative relationship under the renewed agreement, ensuring that every Fijian has access to essential healthcare services, regardless of their location. As both parties work together on these amendments, there is an optimistic outlook for strengthening the public-private partnership that serves the healthcare needs of the community, aiming to adapt to future demands and improve patient care across Fiji.