Healthcare in Fiji
Fiji is a developing country and the standard of healthcare reflects this.
Suva Private Hospital is one of the very few private facilities in Fiji. It has a 24-hour medical centre with general practitioners, specialist practitioners and comfortable in-patient accommodation. However, it does not have the full range of diagnostic equipment or specialists typical of developed countries, so expats should have health insurance arrangements in place to allow evacuation to, and treatment in, Australia or New Zealand. To illustrate the importance of insurance, even a simple coral cut can easily become infected in the tropical heat and humidity, which can result in the need for evacuation in extreme cases.
Pharmaceutical and chemist supplies are adequate, but lack the choice available in Australia and New Zealand. A small number of chemists have arrangements in place to import prescription drugs or vaccinations.
Dental care is adequate, with most dentists being trained in Australia or New Zealand.
Optometry services are available and glasses and lenses are cheap; although, it can take some time for lenses to be imported into the country.
Health risks in Fiji
- Tropical ulcers and sinus infections are commonplace, and any open wounds should be addressed quickly.
- Expats should be careful purchasing meat and fish products, particularly from road side markets where there is no refrigeration. Consumption of fish from the local markets in Suva has been the source of a small number of deaths and many gastric problems.
- Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including typhoid, hepatitis and Giardia) are prevalent, and expats should only drink bottled water, which is cheap and available everywhere.
- Expats should seek medical advice on vaccinations required prior to arrival. Tuberculosis is prevalent in Fiji. The mosquito-borne disease dengue fever has become endemic across Fiji, and there are no vaccines for dengue.
- Scabies and head lice are rife in local schools, and tropical ulcers and boils are common. Small cuts can quickly become infected and require antibiotics.
