Health allocated $269.7M, $47.3M increase

The Health Budget increased to $269.7 million, this is an increase of $47.3 million.

All necessary prescribed medicine under price control will be provided free of charge to Fijians earning $20,000 or less from next year.

This will also include medicines for non-communicable diseases.

$8 million has been allocated for this initiative.

150 new doctors and 200 new nurses will also be employed in the health sector in 2015.

The government has also provided $2.7 million to hire 91 new additional health care workers such as pharmacists and lab technicians.

$17.5 million has been allocated for the construction of the new 55 bed Ba hospital, $4 million is provided for the construction of the new Nausori hospital and another $5.5 million is allocated for the ten bed low risk maternity unit in Makoi.

The relocation of the Naulu Health center will be undertaken at the cost of $850,000 while $200,000 will be allocated for site works for the upgrading of the Valelevu Health Center.

The Government is also providing $6.5 million in 2015 to overhaul the Lautoka hospital accident and emergency department and to make it more modern, efficient and patient friendly.

$2.2 million dollars is budgeted to upgrade the Keiyasi Health center and a further $2.4 million is provided for the upgrade and extension of the Rotuma hospital.

The government will also continue with the extension of the CWM hospital Maternity unit and has provided $3 million for civil works next year.

This project involves the construction of a new 224 bed unit which will cater for the demand for maternity services in Suva.

The Government is also undertaking a large investment to establish a world class tertiary hospital in Lautoka.

This will be running in collaboration with the medical college of the Fiji National University.

When it is completed, it will provide advanced medical and surgical services.

Medical services in the tertiary hospital will be provided free of charge to those households with incomes less than $20,000 and to all retirees irrespective of whether they are on pension or not.