Tonga has completed its first-ever hip and knee replacement surgeries at Vaiola Hospital, with the first patient already discharged and walking following the procedure.
A visiting New Zealand surgical team has performed seven joint replacements in three days at Vaiola Hospital, marking a milestone for specialist healthcare in Tonga and opening the possibility of a regular service.
The Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that a visiting eight-member arthroplasty team from New Zealand had performed seven joint replacements over three days, from 28 September. The team is scheduled to remain in Tonga until 2 October.
Led by Whanganui orthopaedic surgeon Dr John van Dalen, the team includes surgeon Dr Tom Sharp, anaesthetist Dr Geoff Spencer, two Tongan assistant doctors, Dr Charlotte Tu’imana and Dr Letania Mikaele, two registered nurses and a logistics coordinator.
Speaking at a Ministry of Health and Vaiola Hospital press conference, Lord Tangi O Vaonukonuka said the first patient was recovering well, had been walking and was discharged home on Wednesday after monitoring in the surgical ward.
The visiting team is working alongside local surgical and nursing staff, including Dr Tevita Tu’ungafasi, who will help oversee follow-up care.
Previously, people with severe hip and knee arthritis often had to travel to New Zealand or Australia for joint replacement surgery, placing the specialised treatment beyond the reach of many families.
Lord Tangi and Dr van Dalen said providing the procedures in Tonga could help patients regain independence, improve their quality of life and reduce the burden on families.
The visit is being funded by the Rapid Relief Fund, supported by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church in New Zealand. It follows upgrades to Vaiola Hospital’s operating theatres and central sterile services department (CSSD), which provides cleaning and sterilisation of surgical instruments to support patient safety.
Dr van Dalen said the CSSD improvements were critical to enabling complex operations, including joint replacements and trauma surgery, to be carried out in Tonga. Dr Spencer also thanked Vaiola staff for their preparation and support.
The programme is being treated as a pilot, with the team hoping to establish a regular service and potentially return twice a year, depending on funding.
The team plans to return in March 2027, with a target of performing 75 to 100 procedures next year. Vaiola’s local team is expected to begin preparing patients in November, while the Ministry is seeking public support to help fund the visiting team’s return.
