FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for PSH, Mr Parvish Kumar (sitting) joined by academics and staff of FNU and PSH following the signing of the MOU yesterday.
The Fiji National University (FNU) students will have more opportunities to gain practical experience, learn from healthcare professionals and explore new career pathways following a partnership with Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH).
The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday, to strengthen healthcare education, clinical training and research, with a shared focus on developing skills and knowledge needed in Fiji and the wider Pacific.
The agreement was signed by FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, and PSH Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Parvish Kumar.
Through the partnership, students will have opportunities for clinical attachments, hands-on training, industry placements and research. This will allow them to put their classroom learning into practice and gain a better understanding of the work involved in caring for patients.
Professor Nabobo-Baba said the agreement would open up valuable opportunities for students studying medicine, nursing and pharmacy.
“I am pleased that this agreement also allows us to explore potential sponsorship support for pharmacy students, subject to the arrangements agreed between our institutions. These opportunities have the potential to make a meaningful difference to the education and future careers of our young people,” she said.
She also welcomed discussions on developing a postgraduate programme in Cardiovascular Studies under FNU’s School of Medical Sciences.
FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for PSH, Mr Parvish Kumar following the signing of the MOU at FNU’s Bonunaqwele Nadi Campus yesterday.
“The opportunity to work together on developing this programme is encouraging, and I look forward to the academic discussions and processes that will help bring this vision to fruition,” the Vice-Chancellor added.
Professor Nabobo-Baba said working closely with healthcare providers would help FNU keep its programmes relevant to the needs of the sector and prepare graduates for the demands of their chosen professions.
Mr Kumar, an alumnus of FNU’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS), said PSH was established in 2016 with three guiding objectives: advancing healthcare, serving Fiji and the wider Pacific, and promoting universal healthcare in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said the MoU would support collaboration in specialist medical training and pharmaceutical education.
“We will work with FNU to support the training of heart surgeons at Pacific Specialist Healthcare. In addition, PSH is establishing its own pharmaceutical company, Pratima Pharmaceutical Industries, which will provide pharmacy students with valuable opportunities for clinical attachments and industry experience,” said Mr Kumar.
Mr Kumar added that PSH was exploring sponsorship opportunities for selected pharmacy students, which could help ease the cost of their studies while supporting the development of future pharmaceutical scientists.
The CMNHS Acting Dean and Associate Dean Learning and Teaching, Professor Jayantha Weerasinghe, said the partnership would benefit both students and academic staff by creating more opportunities for clinical learning, research, professional development and the exchange of knowledge.
“For our College, this partnership expands opportunities for learning, discovery and collaboration. For Fiji, it represents an investment in the capability of our health workforce, which is central to the nation’s long-term development aspirations.”
“A health system is only as strong as the people who serve within it, and the quality of their education ultimately shapes the care received by families and communities across Fiji and the wider Pacific,” Professor Weerasinghe said.