Open-heart surgery proposed for Labasa Hospital would trigger rapid tourism and real estate growth

IF all goes well, people of the Northern Division could access world-class open-heart surgeries at the Labasa Hospital soon triggering a massive growth in the tourism and real estate sectors and creating more spin-offs by laying the foundation of business and investor confidence.

Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH Hospitals) founder and chief executive officer 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.

Mr Kumar believes that for any region to grow and prosper with the tourism industry and real estate sector being two important players, the availability of world-class medical facilities is a catalyst factor.

He said many times investors shy away from projects worth millions of dollars simply because there are no acceptable health structures in place within an accepted distance and location.

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, Mr Kumar made the special offer known to the Assistant Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics Esrom Immanuel and his members.nata

Mr 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.

Mr 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.

“While improving the overall health services in the Northern Division, our presence will also boost tourism activities with high levels of investor and visitor confidence as a spin-off,” Mr Kumar said.

He said 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.

“While the purpose of the delegations 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 us a platform to speak openly about what we can do to assist the ministry and the government improve upon the health system and the multiplying effect that will have on other important sectors like tourism and real estate,” Mr Kumar added.

·         by Shalendra Prasad, a freelance photojournalist based in Nadi, Fiji