THE Fiji Institute of Medical Laboratory Science (FIMLS) Annual Seminar 2026 got underway today at the Fiji National University (FNU) in Nasinu.
Medical laboratory scientists, health leaders, researchers, and industry partners from across the Pacific will be present to share ideas and talk about the challenges and opportunities around health in the region.
The three-day event themed around “Partnerships in the Pacific,” is jointly organized with the Australian Institute of Medical and Clinical Scientists (AIMS) Tropical Division and FNU. The opening day featured an industry expo showcasing diagnostic innovations.
The official opening takes place tomorrow, and will feature addresses from FIMLS President Keshvi Lal Sukul, AIMS Tropical Division Chair Associate Professor Donna Rudd, and FNU’s Associate Dean of Research, Associate Professor Aruna Devi.
The scientific component of the program covers critical regional health topics, including genomic surveillance for antimicrobial resistance, WHO One Health activities in the Pacific, and a panel discussion on strengthening regional laboratory networks.
The program will round up on Sunday with student case presentations and breakout sessions on haematology education and planetary health.
This seminar shows just how far FIMLS, has come since its founding in March 1983 as the “Fiji Medical Laboratory Technologists Association” (FMLTA) by a group of laboratory experts and consultant pathologists led by Mr. Satish Sudhakar. The association has since grown to become an indispensable part of the medical fraternity in the region. The first seminar was held that same year (1983), at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital’s antenatal clinic room .
In 2012, the association was renamed the Fiji Institute of Medical Laboratory Science, to better take into account its scope and ambitions . Today, FIMLS is completely member funded, and they work in hospital laboratories, private medical laboratories, public health facilities, as well as research, and educational institutions across Fiji .
The inclusion of phlebotomists and the passing of the Allied Health Practitioners Bill, have further strengthened the Institute, which continues to push for improving standards, education, and training in the medical profession.
Events like this annual seminar are vital for sharing knowledge and building the professional networks necessary to address public health challenges in the region, a core mission that has driven the Institute since its founding over four decades ago.
