AIRPORTS Fiji Limited has set up a centre to address emergency medical issues faced by international travellers transiting through Nadi.
The setting up of the Nadi Airport Medical Centre is to prevent incidents which attract negative international publicity, such as a recent incident where it was claimed that a visitor had died because of the ignorance of airport staff.
The clinic's medical officer, Doctor Kanna Goundar, said the centre was well staffed and prepared to handle cases.
He acknowledged that the absence of medical staff at the airport could have resulted in delayed medical attention to some passengers in the past.
"By having us at the airport 24 hours and seven days a week we will be able to reach people within minutes," Dr Goundar said, adding that previously, patients were referred to the Lautoka and Nadi hospitals.
The clinic has two doctors and an ambulance will be on standby to transport patients to the hospitals.
AFL general manager finance, information and technology Lawrence Liew said the new clinic was for the safety of its customers and that people needed to understand that sometimes human lives would be lost.