8 Feb 2010

Provincial hospitals in Fiji extend their diagnostic services

4:15 pm on 8 February 2010

Hospital patients in Labasa in Fiji will no longer have to travel to Suva for some diagnoses after the installation of two diagnostic machines.

The Fiji Times says that for the first time an Echo Cardiograph and an Ultrasound machine have been installed as part of the health ministry's efforts to decentralise services in the country.

Head of the hospital's medical department, Doctor Mikaele Mua, says previously cardiac patients would travel to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva for treatment.

He says when patients had an abnormal heart rate or a murmur, they would be referred to Suva and the hospital would carry the transportation costs.

The machines are part of a 4 and a half million US dollar purchase from Korean supplier.

The two new machinces will be used in the three main hospitals in Savusavu, Labasa and Nabouwalu.