THE cost of having a cardiac surgery done in Fiji by visiting surgical teams is almost three times lower than the cost of surgery done in Australia and New Zealand via private insurance.
This was revealed in a study undertaken for the Ministry of Health by Centre for Health Information Policy and Systems Research (CHIPSR) through a Fiji Health Sector Support Program (FHSSP) grant.
The study said cardiac treatment via a visiting team costs $17,615.15 while private insurance evacuation cost was $51,547.54.
Ministry of Health spokesman Peni Namotu said the study was a comparative analysis undertaken by the Fiji National University which had put the Health Ministry in a good position to secure better and economical cardiac treatment for Fiji.
"It therefore provides a platform for future research for better and economical cardiac treatment for Fijians," he said in a statement.
Mr Namotu said with more people in Fiji diagnosed with cardiac diseases, the study revealed cost of cardiac treatment to local patients that were treated locally and overseas.
"The study has tried to ascertain the costs incurred due to cardiac treatment via three modes of health treatment delivery: via overseas evacuation through the Ministry of Health, via a visiting cardiac team and via overseas evacuation through private health insurance," he said.
"Findings of the report have revealed that cardiac treatment via health visiting teams is the cheapest of the three options which is $17,615.15, however, limited by need for intensive and aneasthetic care.
"It is however not very much different from costs incurred by the Ministry of Health (MOH) for overseas evacuation which is $21,723.79 for a wider array of services possible.
"Private insurance incurs the most cost, whereby treatment in New Zealand or Australia cost $F51,547.54 and India cost $26,641.28."
Mr Namotu said the study provided an insight of the costs incurred and the quality of treatment provided by the three modes of health treatment delivery.