The FMA was founded in 1953, at that time, there was a Fiji branch of the British Medical Association (BMA), but FSM-qualified medical personell were not allowed to join; and the colonial administrators were not in favour of them forming their own body, but didn’t actively try to stop them.
So the Fiji School of Medicine graduates,with their 4-5 year Diploma of Surgery and Medicine (DSM) formed their own association, and immediately inaugurated the Annual Scientific Conference, which has happened ever since excpt for 1987, and possibly during COVID —— Going back to 1950’s, soon after FMA was formed, the expat colonal doctors asked if they might attend the annual scientific etc, and the answer was ‘yes’; Soon after the Fiji branch of BMA dissolved itself as a branch and transferred its assets and membership to FMA;