Tourists in Nadi who fall sick will be given the best treatment by General Practitioners closest to them and referred to government facilities if need be.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete gave these assurances in parliament following the death of two US tourists in June.

Opposition MP Adi Litia Qionibaravi questioned the standard of the Nadi Hospital to treat tourists.

Dr. Waqainabete says when the two deceased were brought to Nadi Hospital, one had already died, while his wife was in critical condition and could not recover

“Of cause, Nadi has the capacity to look after patients who are very, very unwell, stabilize them and if they need to then send them to Lautoka Hospital. As we speak Honorable Speaker patients who have had a heart attack can have the initial treatment done in Nadi Hospital, some of them don’t actually don’t need to go to Lautoka, they are looked after completely in Nadi Hospital”

The Minister also stressed that general practitioners in tourist areas have been made aware of the need to alert the ministry at the earliest so they can assist.