Fiji’s Free Medical and Dental Health Care Schemes have recorded a significant increase in patient numbers, with over 365,000 visits logged between January 2022 and December 2023, according to recent data presented in Parliament.
The initiative, aimed at providing accessible healthcare to Fijians earning $30,000 or less annually, has come at a substantial cost, with expenditures reaching approximately $16.5 million during the two-year period.
The Free Medical Scheme, which started in June 2021 to support Fijians during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded in June 2022 to include dental and laboratory services.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development, and Statistics Professor Biman Prasad tabled the stats in a written response in parliament.
The scheme’s coverage includes general outpatient services, dental care, and medical laboratory services.
Between January 2022 and December 2023, the General Practitioner (GP) Scheme accommodated the majority of patient visits, totaling 316,268 at a cost of $11.9 million. The Dental Practitioner (DP) Scheme saw 19,550 visits, costing $1.7 million, while the Medical Laboratory (ML) Scheme handled 29,843 visits, with expenses amounting to $2.8 million.
As of July this year, the scheme has provided healthcare access to 444,739 patients, with total costs surpassing $19.1 million.
The initiative currently engages 52 approved general practitioners, 4 dental practitioners, and 20 medical laboratories across Fiji.
The Fijian government funds the scheme through a portion of the FNU Levy – half of the 1 per cent levy.
