Vaisigano 1 MP calls for removal of district doctor

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, SAMOA – 19 June 2026 – The Member of Parliament (MP) for Vaisigano 1 district, Amituanai Malolo Tautofi Roma has called for the removal of the doctor serving the district hospital at Sataua in Savaii.

The call was made in Parliament when he took the floor to speak on the budget.

“The district does not want that doctor anymore,” he said.

He said last week he was called to the hospital because his father was there.

“I arrived at the district hospital and saw my father being attached to a ventilation machine and when I asked the nurses where the doctor was, I was told the doctor was in Apia for training and hasn’t been back since the independence celebrations,” he said.

He also told parliament that there had been other complaints from the district residents who claimed there was no doctor when they needed one.

The MP also said that other complaints noted that the doctor sometimes does not attend to the patients but instructed the nurses on the phone on what to do.

He also told Parliament that children and some elderly residents have died because of the poor service provided by the doctor.

“Our district does not want him anymore,” he stated.

Health Minister promise fast action on issue
The Minister of Health, Va’aaoao Salumalo Alofipo voiced his sadness over the MPs claim and promised that action will be taken soon to address it.

He also said he had not received any reports and that the district should have lodged a report with the Ministry of Health.

Prime Minister, Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Schmidt also took the floor and called on the Samoa Medical Association (SMA).

Laauli had met with SMA earlier when FAST took office and he asked SMA to work with the Government to address the state of health services and delivery in the country.

He said the country pays $12m a year to send patients to be treated overseas then asked, “but what are our health services providing locally?”

Laauli emphasized the need for doctors’ commitment to their calling and the need for past differences to be resolved and if the issues continue, then the option is to open the opportunity to donor partners to engage medical doctors from overseas.

He also said the health sector is a top Government priority and is monitoring the situation closely especially with the current situation of medicine shortage, health staff conducting their own contracts from within the ministry and people stealing materials.

He acknowledged the Vaisigano 1 MP for raising the concern and the Government will not deal with it.

The MP also requested for parliament to stand in a minute’s silence for his father’s passing but was denied by the Speaker who said such request is not in order with parliamentary practice.