Fijian Hospitals And Medical Facilities Guide | FJ

lautoka hospital fiji expat guide

Introduction

Our team has compiled a list of all the hospitals and medical facilities across the two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The table has been constructed to allow you to quickly identify the nearest hospital to your residence or workplace. This is an emergency service most of us will never need to use, but being aware of the contact details and having an in-person visual confirmation tick in the box is always recommended. Like all other emergency services, our recommendation is to add the contact details to your phone or travel manifest for quick and easy reference.

Public Healthcare in Fiji

“Collaborative regional approaches to affordable, appropriate, accessible, and quality clinical healthcare to Pacific Island Countries”

Expatriates’ are able to use and seek treatment at the many government-run public hospitals in Fiji. Although the level of care is not always of the standards available in developed countries, with wait times tending to be considerably longer than expected, the quality and quantity of equipment may be extremely basic, inefficient, or in some cases non-existent.

The 3 main public hospitals in Fiji are The Colonial War Museum Hospital located on the outskirts of Suva City in the Central Division; its counterpart Lautoka Hospital serving the people of the city with the same name in the Western Division; and, finally Labasa Hospital on Vanua Levu in the Northern Division. Each has several smaller specialized sub-divisional hospitals (SDH) dispersed across the different provinces and districts of Fiji.

We have created 4 separate tables detailing the different hospitals with respect to their division and province. It is always worth knowing the location of your nearest medical facility when traveling, hopefully, you will not need to use their services, but it is better to have the information and not use it, than not have the most pertinent information when required.

Visitor Advisory 1

The further you remove yourself from the three main urban areas of Fiji, the greater the distance and travel times to access appropriate facilities if needed in an emergency.

Visitor Advisory 2

The Main Hospitals All Have English-speaking Staff

Hospitals in the Central Division

Colonial-War-Museum-Hospital — Outside the Colonial War Museum Hospital in Suva City Fiji | Image: Supplied

Hospital	District	Capacity	Province
Colonial War Memorial	Central Division	458	N/A
St Giles	Central Division	136	N/A
Tamavua/Twomey	Central Division	91	N/A
Korovou	Central Division	17	Tailevu
Nausori Maternity	Central Division	15	Rewa
Navua	Central Division	12	Serua Island/ Namosi
Vunidawa	Central Division	21	Naitasiri
Wainibokasi	Central Division	14	Rewa
Lautoka	Western Division	339	Ba, Lautoka City
Ba	Western Division	50	Ba
Tavua	Western Division	42	Tavua District
Rakiraki	Western Division	22	Ra
Nadi	Western Division	85	Nadi Conurbation
Sigatoka	Western Division	60	Nadroga-Navosa
Labasa	Northern Division	161	Macuata
Savusavu	Northern Division	58	Cakaudrove
Nabouwalu	Northern Division	31	Bua
Waiyevo	Northern Division	33	Taveuni Island
Lakeba	Eastern Division	12	Lakeba Island
Lomaloma	Eastern Division	16	Lomaloma District
Levuka	Eastern Division	40	Lomaviti Islands
Vunisea	Eastern Division	22	Kadavu Island
Rotuma	Eastern Division	14	Rotuma Dependency
Matuku	Eastern Division	5	Matuku Island

Table: Fijian Hospital – National Referral Centre (NRC) – Sub-Divisional Hospital (SDH)

Private Fiji Healthcare | English Speaking

E-Medical-Services-Team at Zens Medical In Fiji (Courtesy of Management).

Medical-Facility	Telephone	Address
Nasese Private Hospital	3314450	62 Ratu Sukuna Road, Suva
Oceania Hospitals	3303404	120 Amy Street, Suva
Zens Medical Centres	6703533	40 Lodhias Street, Nadi
	7766600/9996003	Namaka Lane, Nadi
	6663028	10 Mana Street, Lautoka

Private Fiji Healthcare | English Speaking – Listed above are the few private hospitals in Fiji, they are mainly concentrated around the two main populated areas of Viti Levu, Suva or Nadi. These centers are normally open 24 Hours a day, with more specialized staff and diagnostic equipment available. Although the conditions and equipment are far superior to the public government hospitals, they are still lacking.

Visitor Advisory 3

STRONGLY ADVISE you to include in your travel insurance medical evacuation to Australia or New Zealand as part of your health Travel Insurance Cover. This is normally only a few extra dollars and you can rest assured you will be safe, DO NOT TREAT THIS AS AN EXTRA OR OPTIONAL.

Pharmacies in Fiji

Pharmacies in Fiji

Pharmacies and Drug Stores are widely available across all the cities and major towns of Fiji, enabling easy access to all expatriates and tourists on their holidays, with several pharmacies staying open late into the evening. It is highly advisable to bring sufficient supplies of necessary medication with you when coming to Fiji, with a doctor’s letter for the prescription from home, to present to the border control agents at the airport, and if you need to purchase an additional prescription during your travels.

Visitor Advisory 4

If you need prescribed medicine for your health condition, talk to your GP or practice nurse about your travel plans at least 2 months before your departure date. They can tell you if you need to make any special arrangements. (Traveling with your medicines, Always carry medicines and medical equipment (needles, syringes, and so on) in their original, correctly labeled packages. Details of your medicine, including its generic name (not just the brand name))

Visitor Advisory 5

Carry your medicine in your hand luggage (although check your airline’s regulations before travelling) with a copy of your prescription and consider packing some extra medicine in your suitcase or holding luggage in case you lose your hand luggage.

Visitor Advisory 6

Check that the expiry dates of your medicines will be valid for the duration of your visit abroad.

Health Hazards in Fiji

Stomach Bug in Fiji — Stomach Bug in Fiji (Getty Images)

One of the two most common health issues expatriates have repeatedly reported are Food poisoning and stomach bugs, the three main causes being meat and fish products and the local tap water.

Visitor Advisory 7

Expats should avoid the following to minimise the chances of either of these two health issues upon arrival to Fiji 1) Avoid purchasing Meat or Fish from questionable establishments, especially from the roadside markets, as they normally have no refrigeration. 2) Buy bottled water or boil the water you drink or use to clean salads and raw vegetables, and when socializing avoid ice cubes or ice in your drinks.

Visitor Advisory 8

Pre-Travel Vaccinations for Fiji: There are no mandatory immunizations required for travel to Fiji. However, those moving to Fiji should ensure routine vaccinations, including measles and mumps, rubella, diphtheria tetanus pertussis, polio, chicken pox, and flu vaccines are up to date.

Future Reading
References

FURTHER READING: Remaining well-informed about travel advisories and updates is highly recommended both before and during your trip to Fiji. Prior to departure, regularly check for any official notifications or travel advisories issued by the relevant authorities listed below:

This guide is based on over a decade of research and firsthand experience living in Fiji. It incorporates extensive knowledge gained through long-term residence and ongoing engagement with the region. Images and text have been sourced from official references, which are acknowledged below, to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.