LAUNCH OF NEW DIALYSIS FACILITY $8 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS IN PROGRESS

Oceania Hospitals celebrated a key achievement earlier this week by officially launching its own in-house Dialysis Facility. This was one of the many initiatives that is planned for this year and which are in various stages of progress.

At the 20th anniversary celebration in September last year, Oceania Hospitals had pledged on committing over $10 million worth of capital investments in the short to medium term, as a demonstration of staying true to their commitment to add value to the healthcare sector in Fiji

Speaking at the official launch of the in-house Dialysis facility, the Chief Guest, Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete added that this was indeed a huge milestone for Oceania Hospitals as it will allow patients more options for access and treatment. It will allow Fijians to have access to high standards of clinical expertise and medical care and will ensure that no one is left behind.

In his address, the Board Chairman Dr Wame Baravilala confirmed that around $8 million worth of investments are already underway.

These major projects for which works have already commenced and are in various stages of completion, include:

• A State of the art MRI facility;
• A new Birthing facility;
• An Ophthalmology Centre
• An Integrated “Hospital Information Systems”(HIS);
• Upgrade of premises;
• New Surgical Equipment and
• New/replacement leading edge diagnostic equipment in a variety of fields including mammography, fluoroscopy, Blood Analysers and many others

Oceania Hospitals is currently undergoing a most intense period of investment since its commencement almost 2 decades ago, added Dr Baravilala. These investments re-affirm the confidence the shareholders have in the country and its people, despite the ongoing pandemic related risks.

The new in-house dialysis facility will offer improved screening, detection and management of kidney disease. The facility will provide for ‘Acute Inpatient hemodialysis and Outpatient maintenance hemodialysis’’ care for patients. And, there are plans to move towards a more specialised dialysis with modified forms of renal replacement therapy which includes

Systematic Low Efficient Dialysis (SLED) and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT). This is a step further towards the hospitals’ endeavour to provide customers with a ‘one-stop shop’ service concept. Through the provision of the in-house Dialysis facility, Oceania Hospital goals is to serve the people of Fiji as well as the nearby Pacific Island Countries.

The investment initiatives outlined above are not an end in themselves but the beginning of Oceania Hospitals’ strategic agenda for the future which is designed to complement the public health care system. The Hospital plans to work closely with the Fijian Government and the Ministry of Health in introducing new services or complementing the current services that are available in our healthcare industry.

This is part of the Hospitals’ social responsibility which it is very serious about. To that end, the Chairman thanked the Government for allowing the Hospital to participate in the “Private Medical General Practitioners Scheme”.

The growth in volume of patients visiting our hospital this year is around 40% and that is very heartening, noted the Chairman. Obviously, the sudden surge in numbers is putting some pressure on service levels and patrons are reassured that appropriate steps are being taken by Management to rectify service gaps under utmost priority. The shareholder of the Hospital share the notion that a healthy Fiji leads to a prosperous Fiji. The vision to be the medical hub of the Pacific will soon be realized, through partnering with Government and through continued investments in capacity and its people. Oceania Hospitals is grateful for the unwavering support by its shareholder,

BSP Life and the ultimate shareholder, BSP Financial Group (PNG).

In thanking the Minister Hon Dr Waqainabete for gracing the occasion, the CEO of Oceania Hospitals, Mr Murgessan Pillay acknowledged the continuous support of the Ministry and Government in various collaborative efforts to deliver the wider healthcare goals of the nation and the various initiatives the Government has rolled out in support of private health care providers. He also thanked the customers/patrons for their continued confidence in the hospital

Oceania Hospitals is resolute in forging ahead with its plans to expand its presence across the country, either through direct representation or through a collaborative network of service providers and deliver on its vision – To be the preferred provider in quality private healthcare and diagnostics for the South Pacific through clinical and service excellence.