Health Minister Orders Security Cameras at Pharmaceutical Warehouse Reactivated

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 26 September 2025: The Minister of Health, Va’aaoao Salumalo Alofipo has ordered that the security cameras at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Pharmaceutical Warehouse be reactivated immediately.

The Minister called the IT personnel in charge of the cameras around the facility yesterday after finding out that the cameras had not been working for some time and asked that the cameras be re-activated as soon as possible.

The Minister said he instructed the IT people to ensure the cameras are working and to install more cameras around and inside the warehouse premises if need be.

The call comes after the Minister met with the heads of the 22 division of the Ministry of Health since taking office on 16 September and discussions to address the endemic shortage of medicines and medical supplies.

In updating how the facility is operating in servicing medicine supplies for the National Hospital and rural health centres, Va’aaoao referred to a criminal matter several years ago where Ministry employees were charged and convicted of theft of boxes of medicines from the facility.

The Minister raised during his meeting with the ministry employees this week emphasizing the importance of honesty and steering away from illegal activities.

It was then he found out that the security cameras at the facility had not been working for some time and called for the immediate reactivation and to install more cameras if need be.

The US$6.5 million Facility
The Warehouse was funded by New Zealand, Australia and the World Bank at a cost of US$6.5 million and officially opened in August 2016.

When it was opened, then Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said “The purpose-built facility was to allow Government to buy, store and maintain better quality and larger quantities of medicine, which is important when planning ahead and ensuring we are prepared for any eventuality such as supplier delays or natural disasters.”

When the warehouse was first opened in 2016, one of its objectives was to be the centre for the safe storage of pharmaceuticals and medicines to maintain quality and to do away with wastage.