BUSINESS people seeking quality medical care overseas can use new medical facilities in Lautoka or Ba in the future.
This, according to Minister for Economy and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Speaking in Parliament last week on the proposed public private partnership (PPP) for Lautoka and Ba hospitals, he said there were a number of Fijians who earned more than half a million dollars going overseas for medical treatment.
“Of course Madam Speaker, we would like in time to come, a person who maybe currently does not even go to Lautoka Hospital because he or she earns half a million dollars a year and they are business people who are getting their medical check-ups overseas,” he said.
“If they want to access high quality medical care we would actually like for them to pay for those services too.
“They are not our customers at the moment.”
He assured that no extra charges would be incurred by ordinary Fijians.
“All Fijians who are currently going to Lautoka Hospital, there will not be any change whatsoever in the tariffs they are currently paying.
“So I think it is a hoax by anybody who’s commenting on these issues publicly, in the media or social media, there are a lot of shenanigans going on social media at the moment, without any sort of analysis, without trying to get any of the facts right.
“They are saying ‘oh my God, privatisation and a public private partnership, everything will go out the window’.
“It’s not true Madam Speaker. We are now going to offer, through the PPP, a range of services that are currently unavailable.”
