Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# News coverage on medical care when in Fiji Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji
climb_r 12:35 UTC 13 Nov 2012 | Thought I would pass on this story re. traveling in Fiji and health care available in the event of an emergency: http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/horror-story-a-warning-to-fiji-tourists/1018188 I don't know about the validity of the story, or if there are precedents, and certainly don't feel that this applies just to Fiji! However, I felt it was worthwhile posting onwards, even if just as a reminder to have a phone number of a consulate available, in the event you need emergency assistance, and to have international travel insurance that has a 24-hour number, ideally with local support available. |
Laszlo 05:14 UTC 14 Nov 2012 | This same piece of sensationalist blow-up of a piece of non-news has already been linked to and discussed here recently: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2252051&messageID=20313859#20313859 | 1
climb_r 00:56 UTC 15 Nov 2012 | Laszio, hadn't seen the other post; thanks for noting it. | 2
childchi 01:10 UTC 16 Nov 2012 | The Seeto family in Fiji is a very well known and respected family, and it saddens me to read this so called horror story. Why didn't the daughter take her dad to the Lautoka Hospital by taxi, 10mins from the Hotel. How was she able to put her Dad on the plane in the condition he was in. Some of the symptoms of food poisoning is vomiting, diarrhoea and definetly dehydration. No way I would have put my dad on a 3 hours flight. My husband and I are around the same age, we are NZ citizen living here in Fiji,(15yrs) and certainly the medical facilities aren't as good as NZ, but it is certainly good enough for us. | 3
kenko 01:51 UTC 24 Nov 2012 | Seen this before, but it does have a lesson worth repeating: Have Travel Insurance (especially for those over 60 years old.) Know the telephone contact numbers for the Insurance Company. Medi-Evac coverage is wise if you are visiting a developing country. | 4
5waldos 01:19 UTC 25 Nov 2012 | Medical care throughout the islands is very hit or miss. but it is not what you are used to. Why didn't medical care meet the plane? Most likely because there are no ambulances and this is not something that is done. I don't know about Fiji, although I do know several Fijian doctors, and they do their best but if I were to get seriously ill I'd be out of any of the islands in a flash. But not by medivac- by regularly scheduled flights. And this is not hysteria- I spent 4 years working in the hospitals. | 5