A new, state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) is now operational at Lautoka Hospital, giving all Fijian citizens free access to life-saving procedures such as angiograms.
Cardiovascular disease remains Fiji’s leading cause of death. Providing the Fijian community with access to cutting-edge diagnostics in Lautoka is helping more people detect cardiovascular disease earlier and receive the care they need. With advanced testing now available locally, patients no longer must travel far or face high costs to get timely and accurate results. This is giving families peace of mind, supporting early treatment, and ultimately improving health outcomes across the community.
The Cath Lab was designed and delivered by Cubro Opritech using an innovative modular theatre system — a solution that has drawn praise from medical professionals and administrators alike.
“One cardiac surgeon who’s worked for 40 years across Europe and the US said he absolutely loves this facility,” says Martin Lane, Executive Director of Non-Clinical Services at Aspen Medical. “For little old Fiji, in a hospital that’s 60 years old, it’s fantastic to see.”
Health Care Fiji trading as Aspen Medical is currently overseeing a large-scale redevelopment of Lautoka Hospital, which serves approximately 400,000 people across Fiji’s Western Division. The Cath Lab is the first new facility to open under this project, and it’s already proving its value: in its first month, over 60 patients were seen, half of whom were admitted for bypass surgery.
“We’ve seen a major decline in bypass surgery candidates,” Martin explains. “People simply couldn’t afford angiograms. Suva has the only public Cath Lab, but it’s four hours away. Most private options are out of reach. Now, for the first time, many Fijians can get the treatment they need.”
Ceiling artwork provides a calming, culturally resonant touch for patients
“Cubro Opritech provided a prefabricated modular theatre system, incorporating walls, ceilings, flooring, HVAC equipment, a ceiling-mounted anesthetic pendant, and large medical display monitors. Most impressively, installation was completed in just three weeks, with no disruption to daily hospital operations.”
“The fact that the system was manufactured off-site and installed quickly on location made a huge difference,” says Martin. “This approach dramatically minimised disruption to the functioning hospital — a critical factor in a busy facility like Lautoka, especially where skilled labour and specialised construction materials can be hard to obtain.”
The speed of delivery was matched by the high standard of finish. The modular system ensures factory-controlled precision and consistency — especially important in such locations, where healthcare construction expertise is limited.
“Working with Cubro Opritech allowed us to achieve a level of quality that would have been very difficult locally,” says Martin. “The system looks fantastic, and everything works exactly as designed. The sterile cabinetry, cable-free floors, touchless doors, and glass-laminate panels all contribute to infection control and a highly functional space.”
One standout feature is the floor-to-ceiling glass artwork depicting a Hawksbill sea turtle, a national icon of significance to Fiji sea turtle among coral, providing a calming, culturally resonant touch for patients and staff alike.
“It gives patients confidence that they’re in a state-of-the-art facility. That sense of dignity and trust is crucial,” Martin adds.
The modular design also provides long-term flexibility. If hospital plans evolve, the entire Cath Lab can be relocated without the need to build from scratch — a major cost-saving advantage.
Climate control is another area where the system excels.
“The HVAC performance is excellent,” Martin says. “Temperature and humidity are all within Australian standards — which is not easy to achieve in Fiji. It’s a comfortable and highly functional space.”
The floor-to-ceiling glass artwork depicts a Hawksbill sea turtle, a national icon of significance to Fiji
“The space has already hosted visiting international cardiac teams, who have performed thousands of similar procedures around the world. They’re absolutely raving about it,” Martin says. “It’s one of the best environments they’ve worked in.”
Most importantly, Cubro Opritech’s after-sales support has been outstanding.
“In Fiji, that matters more than most people realise,” says Martin. “Their team responds immediately, and they can remote access the system to diagnose and resolve issues in real time — a huge advantage when local technical resources are limited.”
Throughout the process, communication and project management were clear and reliable.
“From planning to installation, everything was transparent. No surprises, no guesswork — just a collaborative, efficient experience.”
Martin believes the Cath Lab sets a new benchmark for the rest of Lautoka Hospital’s redevelopment.
“It’s something the whole hospital team can be proud of. It’s raised expectations across the board, and most importantly, it’s delivering real, life-saving outcomes for our people, benefiting the entire the region.”