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This year the Fiji School of Medicine celebrates 125 years … From humble beginnings in 1885, the institution has had the vision to be the leading health workforce academic education and research institution in Fiji and the Pacific Region. 
 
We are proud to have been the guardians of life and health in our community and the nation and hope to carry this legacy on into the next century.
 
The outbreak of communicable diseases like measles, small pox and cholera in Fiji in the early 19th Century brought to the spot light the need for western medicine in Pacific Island Countries.
Through this ambition, the Suva Medical School was borne in 1885. A small group of Fijian men started their general medicine training under the guidance of Dr. S.M Lambert at the Colonial Hospital.
 
The three [3] Fijian gentlemen completed the 3 year course to become the first graduating class of the Suva Medical School in 1888. They were licensed to practice medicine as Native Practitioners [NP].
 
 
 
 
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Excerpt from the Handbook of Fiji, L.G.Usher (editor), 1941 (pp.38-9): The old and new schools have altogether provided 229 graduates, 128 of whom are still serving in the various territories under the jurisdiction of His Excellency the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific as well as in Fiji. In 1940 there were fifty-one students in residence. There were 18 Fijians, 2 East Indians, 9 Western Samoans, 1 Eastern Samoan, 4 Tongans, 5 Gilbert and Ellice Islanders, 4 Solomon Islanders, 2 New Hebrideans, 1 Rotuman, 2 Nauruans, 2 Cook Islanders and 1 Niuean. ... The teaching staff comprises one whole time Medical Officer [Dr. Hoodless], who is Principal of the School, and fourteen honorary lecturers and teachers.
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Excerpt from Handbook of Fiji, G.K.Roth (editor), 1937 (p.48): In 1884 a native medical school was started at the Colonial Hospital, Suva, where a three years course of training was given to suitable Fijian youths selected after competitive examination. This institution was recently enlarged and the accommodation, formerly for sixteen, was increased so as to provide for forty students and in 1928 it became the Central Medical School, Fiji. Other Administrations in the Western Pacific co-operate with the Fiji Government in the capital and annual expenditure and the Rockefeller Foundation contributed to the capital cost of the buildings. 
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Excerpt from the The Colony of Fiji 1874-1929, A.A.Wright (editor), 1929 (p.48): With the assistance of £319,500 subscribed by the public for a War Memorial, the Colonial War Memorial Hospital was built, and completed at the end of 1923. This is controlled by the Government and there are two resident medical officers. The main buildings are ferro-concrete, and contain an out-patient department, administratior offices, ward accommodation for twenty-eight Europeans and eighty natives, kitchen, laundry, operating-room, X-Ray-room, clinical laboratory, nurses home, and lecture-room. The Native Medical School is attached to the hospital; there were twelve Fijian, three East Indian, five Samoan, and four Gilbert Island students in training in 1928.
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