The Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva deals with more than half of the nation=s population and is just getting by.

CWM Medical Superintendent, Doctor Ifireimi Waqainabete said that in totality CWM looks after 400,000 people which is fifty one percent of the nation’s population and has only 450 beds in the Hospital.

Waqainabete said that with the fact that most of Fiji's population is centered along the Suva Nausori corridor, the demand for health care is very high, adding that this is a very alarming stat.

However, Waqainabete said through whatever assistance they have been able to receive through business houses, banks and High Commissions they have been able to meet demand.

Doctor Waqainabete said that if we take a look at the recent birth rate where over the past five years there has been an average of five hundred babies delivered per month and more recently close to nine hundred births a month, he expects the demand for health care to increase.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Health Ministry Doctor Sala Saketa had earlier revealed that the Ministry's budget had been cut by nine million dollars in the revised national budget.

However she said that with cost cutting they will be able to meet demands.

Story by: Paradise Tabucala