The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $50 million concessional loan to support a major transformation of Fiji’s health system. The initiative aims to strengthen primary healthcare services, modernize digital health systems, and address the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases across the country.
The funding forms part of a broader $181.94 million financing package under the Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation Project. This regional initiative brings together multiple partners, including $93.50 million from the World Bank as the lead lender, $30 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development, and $8.44 million from the Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Trust Fund. The project is also the first in the Pacific to be cofinanced through the Full Mutual Reliance Framework, a new partnership approach designed to streamline collaboration between the ADB and the World Bank.
The project will help modernize Fiji’s healthcare infrastructure and reinforce the country’s role as a regional health hub for the Pacific. Planned improvements include upgrading digital health systems to enable real-time clinical support for healthcare workers, improving health information systems for better diagnostics and patient management, and strengthening primary care services.
In addition, the initiative will finance the first phase of a new regional referral hospital and training facility at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. This will include the installation of modern medical equipment and expanded training capacity for health professionals who serve communities across the Pacific region.
The project aligns with Fiji’s Digital Health Strategy 2023–2027 and aims to improve health system coordination, expand healthcare access, and strengthen regional resilience against future health challenges. Through the combined financing and expertise of international partners, the initiative is expected to enhance the quality and sustainability of healthcare services in Fiji and across the Pacific.
