Pacific Specialist Healthcare (PSH) has broken ground on a new specialist hospital in Savai‘i, with the privately funded development expected to be completed within 12 to 14 months and positioned to transform access to specialist medical care in Samoa.
The hospital will be built on 10 acres of government land at Salelologa, marking a significant private-sector investment in Savai‘i and the latest Pacific expansion by PSH founder Faaofonuu Parvish Kumar.
Prime Minister La‘aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt said the hospital had originally been proposed for Upolu, but he asked for the development to be brought to Savai‘i.
“This project was initially proposed for Upolu, but I had requested it to be brought to Savai‘i.”
“The Government is proud to provide this 10-acre land. This is our contribution to this important initiative,” the Prime Minister said. “E faataua e le Malo le soifua maloloina o nai a tatou tagata.
“O le tatou sao tāua lea i le Falemai Tumaoti nei.”
La‘auli said the long-term vision was for Savai‘i residents to access specialist treatment closer to home, while also positioning the island to receive patients from elsewhere.
“Patients will no longer be travelling from Savai‘i to the main hospital in Upolu. People will be from Upolu and other parts of the Pacific, to be treated in Savai‘i.”
“That is why this project includes a 100-room hotel,” said Laaulialemalietoa. “To provide accommodation for our medical tourism.”
The Prime Minister said Samoa currently spends more than $12 million tala annually sending patients overseas for medical treatment that cannot be provided at Moto‘otua National Hospital.
“Pacific Specialist Healthcare Samoa means our people no longer have to travel overseas. We can keep them right here where they will receive specialist healthcare at PSH.”
A Catalyst for the Development of Savai‘i
Faaofonuu Parvish told guests that he established Pacific Specialist Healthcare with three objectives: to modernise healthcare at an unprecedented rate; promote universal health coverage in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; and establish an inclusive hospital network that could eventually extend across the whole of the Pacific.
“PSH has been working towards establishing a presence in Samoa since 2018,” he said.
“That is why today, I am extremely elated that we are having the groundbreaking ceremony — turning our dream into a reality,” Kumar said.
“This is no longer a professional pursuit. It has become personal..
“As sun rose this morning, I became part of the Faaofonuu family and a son of Samoa..”
Earlier that morning, Kumar was bestowed the Faaofonuu title at Gautāvai, an occasion he described as an honour, sealing him as an adopted son of Samoa.
Prime Minister La‘auli also acknowledged the significance of the occasion, telling guests: “This private hospital is fully funded by the investor, Faaofonuu Pavisi who this morning became a son of Samoa by taking on the Faaofonuu title in the village of Gautāvai.”
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Member of the Council of Deputies, Le Laulu Tiatia Mapesone Mapusua who is a member of the wider Faaofonuu title.
Prime Minister, Cabinet and Associate Ministers, Salelologa village elders, Government CEOs and the business community were in attendance.
The proceedings opened with prayer by Susuga Elder ⁵Jason Joseph, an Area Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
From Fiji to Samoa
Faaofonuu Parvish Kumar is a Chemist and entrepreneur who founded Pacific Specialist Healthcare in Suva in 2016, driven by a desire to bring medical technologies and specialist services available internationally closer to Pacific people.
“We were not born with money. We came from struggling families and that’s why we are passionate about making specialist healthcare accessible and inclusive for everyone…”
The group later expanded to Nadi, where its major specialist hospital at Legalega was officially opened in 2023 by Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. The facility has developed services across areas including cardiac surgery and cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, urology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and advanced diagnostics.
Samoan patients have begun travelling to PSH in Fiji for specialist care, including complex cardiac treatment instead of the long trip to India.
The new Savai‘i hospital takes that relationship a significant step further by bringing PSH’s specialist healthcare model directly to Samoa.
Kumar told the gathering construction is expected to take 12 to 14 months.
“It will be a catalyst for the development of Savai‘i.”
“We intend to change the landscape of health service delivery in Samoa,” he said.
“I look forward to working together with you all to achieve modernised, inclusive and quality healthcare services for the people of Savai‘i and Samoa.”
Beyond healthcare, the development is expected to create employment and economic activity and potentially attract specialist medical professionals and patients to Savai‘i.
For an island whose residents have traditionally travelled to Upolu or overseas for higher-level specialist treatment, the project presents a different prospect: a Savai‘i capable not only of caring for more of its own people closer to home, but potentially welcoming patients from across Samoa and the wider Pacific.
Public Notices from the SGN Online Notice Board
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