World Bank President, Ajay Banga has urged Fiji to address key challenges in its health sector, calling for improvements in facilities, training, and community health outcomes during his visit to Fiji
Banga praised the dedication and talent of Fijian healthcare workers but emphasised the need for targeted investments to overcome the country’s health challenges.
“You see how dedicated they are, how talented they are—they’re trying to deliver better outcomes at the centre and in the community,” Banga said.
“But the challenges are clear: communicable diseases driven by nutrition, sanitation, and education need to be prioritised.”
Banga highlighted the constraints in healthcare facilities, noting the limited space but commending the efforts to optimise what’s available.
“You can see this is a constrained space, yet they’ve done a pretty good job of creating spaces for different challenges,” he said.
A major hurdle, according to Banga, is retaining trained health professionals like nurses who often move abroad.
“The challenge isn’t just about training people—it’s about making the environment one they want to be part of,” Banga explained.
“You can’t mandate them to stay; you have to tackle the push factors—improve the environment, help with remuneration, make them proud of serving their community.”
Banga also highlighted the importance of regional collaboration among Pacific nations.
“Because the Pacific Islands are small in population, having regional infrastructure is part of the solution. It’s a bigger load for each country, but the Pacific Islands have to work together on this,” he said.
Fiji’s Health Minister Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu expressed appreciation for Banga’s visit and insights.
“First of all, I’d like to thank the World Bank President for choosing Fiji and focusing on health as part of the site visit.
“We’re happy the health sector review report has identified areas we need to strengthen, particularly primary health care. I look forward to working with development partners on improving primary health care so we can tackle the prevention part early,” Ratu Atonio said.
Banga confirmed that the World Bank has conducted a health report for Fiji, providing a baseline for the country’s needs.
“Our job will be to give them technical assistance and finance,” Banga stated. “That’s what I’m trying to learn while I’m here.”
He said Fiji’s health sector requires not just financial support, but also strategic changes to make healthcare roles more appealing and sustainable for local professionals.
He left Fiji today for a one-day visit to Tuvalu.
