Cardiology hub – Fiji Times Online – Fiji Times

A SURGEON who has been performing free surgeries in the country for the past 10 years, says Fiji has the potential to be the main cardiology centre in the Pacific.

Cardiologist Dr Albert Ko is from Ascot Hospital in Auckland and performed Fiji's first angioplasty at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) on April 6, 2011.

"Since the first angioplasty about six to seven years ago, there hasn't been much development in terms of equipment," he said.

"However, the local staff are very good people who have been trained by us.

"They are just as good as those in Australia and New Zealand, but these people need a career pathway, they need to know where they're headed towards in terms of salaries, training prospects, upskilling themselves and acquiring the best interest in their jobs."

Dr Ko said Fiji had the capability to provide services on a level comparable to Australia and New Zealand, so patients from Pacific Island countries would pay a lower cost to receive treatment in our country. He said he performed a total of 40 surgical procedures with the local medical team at CWM Hospital in one week, showing Fiji had the capability and potential to make something very little into something big.

Dr Ko said in order for Fiji to gain the recognition it deserves in the Pacific, the Government would have to step in and help develop and support the cardiology unit.

He added the objective behind the efforts was to ensure cardiology services in Fiji were easily available, cheap and increase the standards of healthcare in the country.

"I know a lot of Chinese here in Fiji who travel all the way to China for treatment but we have to let them know that we have a really good cardiac unit so you don't have to go anywhere else," he said.

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Cardiology hub - Fiji Times Online - Fiji Times