NCCI president Dr Ram Raju, right, confirms the naming rights sponsorship of the upcoming Business Forum with PSH Hospitals founder and CEO Mr Parvish Kumar.
By SHALENDRA PRASAD
Fiji’s largest state-of-the-art 130-bed specialty private hospital has secured the naming rights of the upcoming Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) Business Forum scheduled to be held at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi on Friday, May 23.
The management of Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH Hospitals) which is situated a stone’s throw away from the Nadi International Airport and has been making local and international headlines for unprecedented milestone achievements in the medical and healthcare arena strongly believes in collaborations and strategic alliances with like minded organisations and people to stay connected with the community at all levels.
“As the leading and most advanced private hospital in the Pacific region, it is important for us to stay well connected with the business community which plays a crucial role in economic development and prosperity,” PSH Hospitals founder and chief executive officer Parvish Kumar said.
Al-Hamd Smart Living managing director Mr Ashfaaq Khan, left, hands over the donation cheque to NCCI board member Bir Chand during the opening of his tenth retail outlet at Challenge Plaza in Namaka, Nadi on Saturday, May 10. Tui Nawaka Ratu Joeli Derenalagi Naevo was the chief guest at the store opening.
Mr Kumar said he is looking forward to meeting other high profile speakers including government ministers, leading CEOs and entrepreneurs during the Business Forum.
“I am told this is a pre-budget forum so I am looking forward to connecting with the other esteemed speakers and guests during the event and plan to deliver a presentation as well,” Mr Kumar added.
“I will make a strong lobby for the waiver of Value Added Tax (VAT) from all medical services, consumables and equipment across the board and also propose massive tax incentives and refund rebates for medical tourists as that segment of the tourism sector has a huge potential for further growth especially with a resort-styled hospital set-up that we have,” Mr Kumar added.
“Working in line with the Fiji government’s vision to develop the medical tourism sector, PSH Hospitals is all geared up to live up the expectations of all stakeholders concerned and deliver world-class health services at the most competitive and cost-effective rates.
NCCI Vice President Lawrence Kumar, managing director of Denarau Supermarket and Liquor and Promex Consulting hands over a donation cheque to NCCI treasurer Rajeshni Devi for the upcoming Business Forum.
“The hospital is aligned with the Fiji Government’s aspirations for promoting medical tourism to the world and we have already started taking constructive steps in that direction but we need support in terms of tax holidays to fully realize our dreams of becoming a lucrative medical tourism destination,” Mr Kumar added.
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka who will be also speaking at the Business Forum had earlier said that the establishment and rapid expansion of PSH Hospitals exemplifies Fiji’s commitment to offering state-of-the-art facilities and advanced treatments.
“There is a need to develop Fiji’s health infrastructure to support locals and medical tourists,” Mr Gavoka said.
“Medical tourism involves traveling to another country for medical care, driven by factors such as cost-effectiveness, availability of treatments and quality of care.
“Fiji aims to emulate successful examples like India, which attracts many Fijians and Pacific Islanders annually for medical treatments. In 2022, approximately two percent of visitors engaged in health and medical activities in Fiji,” Mr Gavoka revealed.
Mr Gavoka states that the government is incentivizing private investment in healthcare through investment allowances for building, renovating, or expanding private hospitals.
“The medical investment package includes concessions and duty-free entry for certain medical machinery, encouraging investors to support the development of private healthcare facilities.”
Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) president Dr Ram Raju says he is proud of his association with PSH Hospitals and has called on New Zealand and Australia to gradually look at providing a visa-free travel for Fijians and Pacific Islanders at large.
“We fully support the calls made by our Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Biman Prasad of a ‘Blue Pacific’ visa-free incentive from the New Zealand and Australian governments as it will have very positive outcomes in all sectors of the economy including medical tourism and many areas of trade and investments,” Dr Raju said.
“An economically integrated Blue Pacific can only arise from the foundation of visa-free movement of people.”
Dr Raju also thanked DPM Professor Biman Prasad for accepting their invitation to be the chief guest at the forum and acknowledged PSH Hospitals for coming onboard with the major sponsorship for the event.
The theme of the first Business Forum of the year is: “Fiji’s Economic Preview – the Next Fiscal Budget and Beyond”.
Fiji SUN is the official media partner of the PSH Hospitals sponsored NCCI Business Forum 2025.
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- SHALENDRA PRASAD is a freelance photojournalist based in Nadi, Fiji
