The government had “the guts” to commission independent hospital reviews and publish the findings, Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad says.

Speaking on The Lens@177, Prof Prasad said “we are not hiding it from the people”.

At CWM Hospital, 27 projects have begun under an Australian-funded program.

“Lifts have been fixed,” he said.

“There are still issues… but it’s a much-improved situation now.

The Government has also fixed long-neglected centres such as Nasinu Health Centre and is rebuilding Kadavu Hospital, where mothers were forced to give birth on verandas.

“This is what we inherited… we are hoping that by November we will have that hospital… up.”

Prof Prasad also highlighted a new agreement with India for cheaper medicines and a community pharmacy model, plus a new storage hub in Labasa.

He also confirmed plans for a “Healthy Pacific” project with the World Bank, a new national “Pacific Hospital” and an Indian-built super-specialty hospital in Nasinu to provide cardiac and other specialist care locally.

On education, he said funding and infrastructure upgrades continue as part of the broader budget focus on health and education, which he called “very important” drivers of GDP growth and social outcomes.

Prof Prasad was responding to a question on whether he could assure Fijians that basic services will be available at the level and quality people expect.