8th Fijian Nephrology Symposium
Compassionate Care Across Pacific Cultures: A Holistic Approach to Palliative Care
8th and 9th August 2025
Sofitel Fiji Resort And Spa, Denarau Island, Fiji
For the first time, this year’s Symposium will be held in conjunction with our colleagues from Internal Medicine Organisation of the Pacific (IMOP).
This year’s Symposium theme is focused on Palliative Care which is relevant to not only Nephrology services but all facets of clinical care. Many of the Pacific Island countries have limited treatment options available and so it is essential that we should be able to provide holistic supportive care. To our knowledge no Pacific Island nation currently has an established palliative care service, leaving general healthcare workers and family caregivers to manage end-of-life care with limited training. In addition, stigma in both the general community and amongst health professionals around discussing death can delay referrals, reducing the effectiveness of available services and sometimes wasting our already limited resources.
We hope to see you there to learn, share and work together towards a building a more compassionate health care system in the Pacific.
Registration Fees
Early Bird Closes: 6th July
DRAFT Program
Friday 8th August
09:30 Registration Desk open
10:00 Welcome Address: NSOF & IMOP President
10:15 Opening remarks from Chief Guest
10:30 Essentials of Palliative Care: Principles and Practices. Dr. Louis Christi
11:00 Morning Tea
11:30 Symptom Management in Palliative Care: Pain and SOB Dr. Louis Christi
12:00 Symptom Management in Palliative Care: Nausea, Anorexia, Itch and Fatigue Dr. Megan Ritchie
12:30 LUNCH
13:30 Meeting palliative care needs in a low-resource setting - case study of the Solomon Islands Kate Reed
14:00 Access to Essential Medicines in the Pacific Kate Reed
14:30 Cultural Sensitivity in Palliative Care: Bridging Traditions and Modern Medicine Dr. Salma Hanif
15:00 TEA BREAK
15:30 Modes for Communication. Dr Kelly Li
16:00 Communication Workshop facilitated in small groups
17:00 Summary and Close
Saturday 9th August
08:00 FNU Masters of Medicine Research: Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Graf in Lautoka Hospital: A 2 year retrospective study Dr. Tevita Tamani
09:00 Kidney Supportive Care: Everybody’s Business Dr. Mark Brown
09:30 Palliative Care in Nephrology: Discontinuing Dialysis Dr. Kelly Li
10:00 Morning Tea
10:30 The importance of the multidisciplinary team in palliative care Dr. Megan Ritchie
11:00 Palliative Care Tool-Kit for the Pacific Islands Dr. Dipti Mittal
11:30 Building capacity through Nurse-led models of care in palliative care Kate Reed
12:00 LUNCH
13:00 Advance care planning in Kidney disease Dr Mark Brown & Dr Kelly Li
13:30 Spiritual Considerations in End-of-Life Decision-Making Shrish Acharya
14:00 Current Laws in Fiji with may impact Palliative Care TBC
14:30 AFTERNOON TEA
15:00 Facilitated Group Discussion: Next Steps for establishing Advanced Care planning & Palliative Care in Pacific Region
16:00 Closing Session
Accomodation
Accomodation is not being provided by NSOF.
The attached form can be used to access reduced room fees at Sofetil Resort & Spa (Single room $650, Double room $695). Alternatively, other accomodation can be sought elsewhere by attendees.
