Northern Division could access open heart surgery soon

People in the Northern Division could access world-class open-heart surgeries at the Labasa Hospital soon.

This is after Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH Hospitals) founder and CEO Parvish Kumar made the special offer to set-up a state-of-the-art cardiology department including a fully-fledged and modern catheterization laboratory (cath lab) in Labasa if given the necessary approval by the Fiji Government.

Speaking with a high-powered delegation from the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PACP) which visited the 130-bed specialty private hospital which is the largest of its kind in Fiji during a fact-finding mission on Friday February 28, Kumar made the special offer known to Assistant Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics Esrom Immanuel and his members.

Immanuel who is the chairman of the PACP took a guided tour of Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH Hospitals) along with the Assistant Minister for Office of the Prime Minister Sakiusa Tubuna and members of parliament Alvick Maharaj and Hem Chand.

Kumar further elaborated the need for the government to form a strategic alliance with successful private hospital operators such as PSH Hospitals to improve the overall health sector in the country.

He says while the purpose of their visit was to observe how private hospitals operate and make recommendations to the Ministry of Health on how to better serve the public, it also gave them a platform to speak openly about what they can do to assist the ministry and the government improve upon the health system.

The Founder says they have developed a fully home-grown solution for their cardiology department instead of outsourcing to visiting specialists.

He says this is something not found at any other medical facility in Fiji and they would like to do the same in Labasa.

Kumar says give them the same funding which the government is currently spending at the Labasa Hospital and they will run it more efficiently and also set-up the cath lab and start offering these delicate surgeries right in Labasa.

He says while improving the overall health services in the Northern Division, their presence will also boost tourism activities with high levels of investor and visitor confidence as a spin-off.

The Founder adds more investors will want to set-up businesses such as resorts and hotels, holiday and retirement homes and even host international events such as sporting activities and musical concerts because they will have a peace of mind knowing the availability of world-class health services right in the heart of the Northern Division.