Dr Krupali Tappoo: Mission-Led Healthcare Leader Serving Vulnerable Communities

With the integration of Medicare, Educare, and Sociocare a new wave of healthcare service is evolving, one that represents a holistic approach to address the needs of the underserved populations. These frameworks and models move beyond traditional treatment, aiming to foster overall well-being. The system creates a more resilient population and sets a benchmark for scalable, community-driven healthcare solutions while catering to both, physical and mental wellness.

Australian-trained General Practitioner Dr Krupali Tappoo, brings international expertise and deep local commitment to healthcare sector in Fiji. Currently serving as the Director of Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital, South Pacific’s first state-of-the-art pediatric cardiac super-speciality hospital, she offers compassionate care through her philanthropic work. Beyond the medical care, Dr Krupali is an active health writer commissioned to raise awareness via media, mentoring upcoming generations to fuel nation’s talent pool in the right direction. Dr Krupali believes in serving with compassion and leading with integrity.

Take us through the formative years of your life and key influences that shaped your life’s trajectory.

I was born and raised in Fiji in a close-knit family with morals. My father was an entrepreneur instilled the value of hard work and my mother on the other hand, emphasized education and ensured we had opportunities she never had. Their values, discipline, education and perseverance became the foundation of my journey. I viewed education as my anchor growing up and was driven to succeed academically, from school to medical training.

A foundation rooted in faith and honesty became the stepping stones and guided me through to both, my personal and professional journey. One of my earliest memories is visiting the main hospital in Fiji when I was about five with my granduncle. Watching doctors and nurses around working with passion and a purpose instilled in me empathy and later on not just a career but a calling to contribute to healthcare sector.

How has your professional journey in Fiji’s healthcare & family medicine sector evolved?

I earned my medical degree and completed an internship at the National Hospital in Fiji. Relocating to Australia thereafter was a thought decision offering better growth avenues and I spent nearly a decade working in hospitals, embarking on the journey of training in general practice. Working in Fiji I learnt to deliver medical care with limited resources, diagnostics, and treatment options.

After completing my fellowship, I intended to return to Sydney but a 2015 visit to Fiji and an unexpected meeting with Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai shifted my path profoundly and reshaped my journey. Moving back to Fiji from Sydney is etched as a pivotal moment as it broadened my horizons and opened up opportunities that I never imagined.

What key areas of expertise have you devel­oped as a healthcare leader over the years?

My clinical practice is guided with viewing my patients as people and individuals first who require attention to their immediate needs. Leadership demands a broader lens, steering strategy, shaping systems, and ensuring governance that impacts communities at large. Hospital leadership is about balancing vision with execution. At the heart of it is a patient-centric model centred to care for people of all ages, culture and race.

I have learnt that communication is one of the most critical aspects of leadership. I actively cultivate the environment of an open and transparent communication channel with teams. Leaders must navigate change and crises with clarity and empathy that in turn guides people through the path ahead.

Introduce us to Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital Fiji. What roles do you shoulder as the hospital’s Director?

Inspired by global humanitarian leader, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, The Sai Prema Foundation Fiji established the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital, a 27-bed facility focused on paediatric heart care in April 2022. Today, with no billing counter, we have transformed access to care, performing nearly 400 free, life-serving surgeries since opening. What began as a hospital is now a regional lifeline. Our hospital’s model is rooted in compassion for children from Fiji and the Pacific islands having access to free and life-saving care that never exited before.

As the Director of the Hospital, I am responsible for leading diverse management teams, covering clinical care, procurement, finance, HR, and logistics, while en­suring alignment across all functions. Inevitably, my role extends beyond hospital walls, balancing on-site presence with continuous coordination. I lead by exam­ple fostering collaboration with visiting medical teams and maintain strong ties with government partners.

What key business challenges do you encounter in your current role and how do you navigate through these roadblocks?

Fiji calls for its healthcare sector to evolve, adapting to new, accessible, and advanced solutions. The public system is under pressure, infrastructure lags behind, and talent retention is a growing concern in all sectors. A collaboration between the government and public will create ideal conditions for healthcare professionals to thrive.

True leadership begins with optimism and gratitude felt from heart

The loss of skilled professionals to opportunities abroad has created a pressing challenge despite the rapid development of Fiji. Without a robust and specialized healthcare infrastructure, people fear their needs of those of their families, may not be adequately supported, limiting repatriation. This calls for investment in workforce retention and capacity building at large.

How do you foresee Fiji’s healthcare landscape evolving? Which industry trends will create a significant impact going forward?

The new era calls for the healthcare sector to evolve beyond the traditional models. AI-driven insights have given us the ability to reimagine care that is both equitable and sustainable. It brings potential to surface that is otherwise underutilized. The real opportunity lies in calling these solutions, ensuring that every community can access quality healthcare with dignity and ease.

Although Fiji is a small nation, it has grown into a vital hub for the South Pacific Islands. Our nation’s friendly nature, welcoming environment, and natural warmth position Fiji to become a leading healthcare destination for the region. Setting high standards of care is the key to achieving inclusive and sustainable healthcare in the region and beyond.

Dr Krupali Tappoo, Director, Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital Fiji

Dr Krupali Tappoo bridges clinical excellence with compassionate service and care. With extensive training in Australia, she holds advanced qualifications in Child and Women’s Health. Dr Krupali’s experience spans top-tier hospitals and training role. Her work extends beyond treatment through academic leadership at Fiji National University and contributes to medical publications shaping the future of healthcare.