The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $50 million concessional loan to support a major transformation of Fiji’s health system—strengthening primary care, modernising digital systems, and tackling noncommunicable diseases.

The loan is part of the $181.94 million total financing package for the Pacific Healthy Islands Transformation Project—the first in the Pacific to be cofinanced under the newly established Full Mutual Reliance Framework (FMRF). The financing includes $93.50 million from the World Bank (lead lender), $30 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development, and $8.44 million from the Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response Trust Fund.

“This project is groundbreaking, as it enables ADB and the World Bank to efficiently combine financing and expertise to deliver long-term regional health resilience,” said Regional Director of ADB’s Pacific Subregional Office Azusa Sato. “Fiji plays a critical regional role in training health professionals and delivering specialist services across the Pacific. By modernising primary care, investing in digital connectivity, and strengthening the regional referral hospital, the project reinforces Fiji’s role as a Pacific health hub.”

Aligned with Fiji’s Digital Health Strategy 2023–2027, the project will enable real-time digital clinical support for health workers and upgrade health information systems to improve coordinated diagnostics and patient management. It will also finance the first phase of a new regional referral hospital and training facility at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, including modern medical equipment and expanded training capacity.

The FMRF is an innovative cofinancing arrangement between ADB and the World Bank designed to streamline project preparation, reduce duplication, and deliver faster and more effective development support.