India Expands 'Heal in India' Medical Care to Fijians

India Announces Extension of Tertiary Medical Care to Fijians under the ‘Heal in India’ Programme

The Government of India has announced an expanded partnership with the Republic of Fiji to provide specialized tertiary medical care to Fijian citizens, under the framework of its flagship ‘Heal in India’ programme. This initiative, formalised during the recent high-level bilateral meetings in August 2025, marks a new chapter in India–Fiji healthcare cooperation and is designed to directly address pressing healthcare needs in Fiji by leveraging India’s advanced medical infrastructure.

Background: Deepening India–Fiji Health Cooperation

India and Fiji share a longstanding development partnership, characterized by mutual support in healthcare, infrastructure, capacity building, and disaster response. In the spirit of “Veilomani Dosti” (Friendship of Compassion), recent years have witnessed India’s active involvement in strengthening healthcare systems in Fiji, including support for pharmaceutical access, telemedicine, and capacity enhancement for medical personnel.

During the 3rd Joint Working Group on Health held on 13 August 2025, the two countries deliberated on expanding health collaboration, especially leveraging technological tools such as e-Sanjeevani to enable telemedicine consultations and digital health connectivity. Over time, India’s support has extended from the supply of affordable generic medicines to technical partnerships in healthcare delivery and skills development.

Implementation of the ‘Heal in India’ Programme for Fijian Citizens

As part of the most recent set of bilateral outcomes, the Government of India has committed to provide specialized or tertiary medical care services in leading Indian hospitals for up to ten Fijian patients annually. This offering, which will supplement Fiji’s existing Overseas Medical Referral Programme, is designed to address medical cases requiring advanced expertise and facilities not readily available in Fiji.

The announcement was made in the India-Fiji Joint Statement issued after the bilateral talks in August 2025. The joint statement says:

“India will also extend specialized/tertiary medical care services in Indian hospitals for up to 10 Fijians under the ‘Heal in India’ programme to supplement Fiji’s Overseas Medical Referral programme.” [1]

The Heal in India initiative is part of India’s broader health diplomacy and medical value travel strategy, aiming to position the country as a global destination for advanced and affordable healthcare.

Scope of Services and Procedures

Under this arrangement, Fijian patients eligible for referral will gain access to a range of advanced medical and surgical procedures, including but not limited to:

• Cardiac surgeries
• Oncology treatments
• Organ transplants
• Orthopaedic surgeries
• Neurology and neurosurgery
• Other specialized disciplines based on need assessment conducted by Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Indian partner hospitals

These procedures will be hosted at recognised super-specialty hospitals across India, leveraging expertise, technological advancement, and clinical excellence.

Administrative Framework and Coordination

Selection and referral of patients are to be managed through Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services, which will coordinate with Indian health authorities and participating hospitals under a structured protocol. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) governing the terms of medical care, patient welfare, and associated logistics has been signed between the two governments.

Administrative support will be extended to Fijian patients throughout the referral cycle, encompassing visa facilitation, travel assistance, medical scheduling, interpreter services (if required), and post-treatment follow-up. The government-to-government (G2G) framework is intended to ensure transparency, prioritization of critical cases, and continuity of care.

In conjunction with the tertiary referral scheme, both countries have agreed to strengthen remote health consultations through digital platforms. The e-Sanjeevani telemedicine project, discussed at the August 2025 Joint Working Group on Health, will help pre-screen and monitor patients, and also support local Fijian doctors in managing complex cases with guidance from Indian specialists.

Integration with Existing Fiji Programmes

Fiji operates its own Overseas Medical Referral Programme to send patients abroad for life-saving procedures unavailable locally. India’s new offering intends to supplement, not supplant, Fiji’s current arrangements, providing an additional avenue for critical cases to seek treatment in Indian institutions renowned for excellence and cost-effectiveness.

Other Healthcare Agreements and Initiatives

The extension of specialized medical care was announced alongside several other collaborative outcomes. Notably, an MoU was signed on the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of a new super-specialty hospital in Fiji. This facility, once operational, is expected to reduce dependency on overseas referrals by enhancing Fiji’s in-country capacity for advanced treatments.

Additionally, a separate agreement was concluded between India’s HLL Lifecare Limited and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Fiji, to supply affordable medicines under the Janaushadhi Scheme, a move intended to lower out-of-pocket costs and assure supply-chain reliability for Fijian patients [2].

Both governments also welcomed the establishment of Jan Aushadhi Kendras (People’s Pharmacies) in Fiji, which will provide low-cost, quality-assured medicines. This is significant in the context of NCD (non-communicable diseases) management, where access to sustained medication regimens is crucial.

Second Jaipur Foot Camp in Fiji

Prime Minister Modi announced support for the organisation of a second Jaipur Foot Camp in Fiji, which will offer free prosthetic limb fittings and rehabilitation support for amputees, further exemplifying India’s focus on inclusive healthcare outreach [1].

Potential Administrative and Public Impact

The provision of specialized medical care for Fijian patients in India holds both immediate and long-term benefits. Some anticipated impacts include:

• Improved Access to Advanced Medical Care: Fijians with complicated health conditions can avail treatments that may not be available or viable in the local health system.
• Reduced Waiting Times: Referrals to Indian hospitals are expected to expedite critical procedures, thereby saving lives and improving quality of care.
• Capacity Building Through Exposure: Fijian medical professionals accompanying patients may observe protocols and clinical practices in Indian hospitals, aiding skill transfer.
• Strengthening Institutional Ties: Regular engagement through such programmes enhances institutional collaboration and paves the way for future joint research, training, and public health initiatives.
• Patient Welfare and Navigation Support: The structured administrative process ensures that referred patients receive comprehensive support, minimizing potential barriers related to language, logistics, and cultural adaptation.

From a public health perspective, this programme aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. Furthermore, it showcases the growing importance of international health partnerships in addressing the complex challenges faced by small island developing states.

Broader Context: India’s Medical Value Travel Initiatives

‘Heal in India’ is one of India’s flagship medical value travel (MVT) programmes, initiated to make India a global healthcare destination for affordable and high-quality treatments. The programme encompasses:

• Identification and empanelment of super-specialty hospitals offering various disciplines of advanced care
• Streamlining of visa and travel arrangements for foreign medical travellers
• Coordination with governments for official referrals under bilateral agreements
• Patient navigation and coordination support, including translation and post-operative care

Over the past decade, patients from Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific have sought medical attention in India for specialised surgeries and procedures, driven by the twin advantages of high standards and cost competitiveness.

India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as well as the External Affairs Ministry, are actively involved in refining the operational protocols of ‘Heal in India’ to address the unique needs of smaller partner countries such as Fiji.

Memoranda and Formal Agreements

The recent India–Fiji Joint Statement records a suite of agreements that frame the new health initiatives:

1. Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of India and Fiji for the design, commissioning, and operation of a super-specialty hospital in Fiji
2. Agreement for the supply of affordable medicines under the Janaushadhi Scheme
3. Memorandum of Understanding for digital health and telemedicine collaboration, including participation in e-Sanjeevani
4. MoU on the recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia to standardize healthcare product quality and access in Fiji
5. Declaration of Intent on Migration and Mobility

These formal agreements collectively strengthen the institutional framework for bilateral health cooperation, ensuring both immediate and future benefits for the Fijian populace.

Logistics and Patient Experience

For Fijian citizens accessing tertiary care in India, a streamlined patient referral protocol has been instituted. Once a case is identified and cleared by Fiji’s Ministry of Health, the Indian Mission facilitates medical visa issuance and establishes communication between the patient, their accompanying medical attendant, and the designated Indian hospital.

In-hospital interpreters and liaison officers are made available to help navigate language barriers. Patient welfare is monitored jointly by both governments through regular progress reports and check-ins. Discharge summaries, ongoing care instructions, and telemedicine-based follow-ups form part of the patient management continuum, bridging the transition from Indian care facilities back to Fijian health services.

Funding and Cost Structures

The Joint Statement notes India’s commitment to supplement Fiji’s existing medical referral efforts, though the precise modalities regarding funding — whether fully or partially subsidized — are determined on a case-by-case basis by joint oversight committees. Affordability remains a central pillar: by choosing India as a care destination, Fiji can benefit from significantly lower procedure costs in comparison to other overseas destinations, maximizing the reach of its health budget.

Future Prospects: Strengthening the Indo-Pacific Health Corridor

The extension of India’s advanced medical care to Fiji is emblematic of India’s broader strategy to develop a robust “Indo-Pacific Health Corridor”. Through capacity-building investments, technology transfer, and direct service provision, India aims to create sustainable health partnerships across the region.

The MoUs on medical education, super-specialty hospital establishment, and health standardization underscore commitments to longer-term transformation of Fiji’s health ecosystem. These will gradually reduce the need for outbound referrals by developing more resilient and capable local infrastructure.

Official Statements and Vision

Leaders from both countries have expressed their strong support for these developments. The official Joint Statement notes:

“Prime Minister Modi welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Recognition of Indian Pharmacopoeia in May 2025 which will strengthen collaboration in the pharmaceutical sector and ensure improved access to quality and affordable healthcare products and services in the Republic of Fiji.” [1]

Both governments emphasized that development partnership remains a cornerstone of their bilateral relationship, with health as a primary focus area. Implementation will be monitored through regular joint working group meetings and technical exchanges.

Conclusion: Administrative Significance

India’s extension of specialized tertiary medical care to Fijians under the ‘Heal in India’ programme demonstrates the role of pragmatic, institution-led diplomacy in delivering concrete public benefits. By complementing Fiji’s own programmes and investing in hospital infrastructure, telemedicine, and pharmaceutical supply chains, this partnership seeks to create a sustainable, equitable, and mutually beneficial health ecosystem in the South Pacific.

For Fijian citizens, the programme offers a new avenue to access modern medical treatments otherwise beyond reach; for India, it underscores the expanding scope of medical diplomacy as an instrument of regional cooperation and goodwill. The administrative procedures have been crafted to prioritise transparency, patient safety, and ongoing collaboration, reflecting a shared vision for health security and service delivery.