Overseas medical treatment

Fiame Naomi Mata’afa says it is a reflection of the poor health of the citizens of Samoa reports Tala Fou.

She confirmed that Cabinet approved 13 patients for medical treatment in New Zealand last week.

The overseas medical treatment scheme is very costly for Samoa.

According to the Prime Minister, the Government may not be able to continue with the scheme if the number of patients requiring medical treatment overseas continues to increase.

So far the total cost of medical transferal scheme to New Zealand for this financial year alone is $16 million tala.

Cabinet approved the removal of the restriction at its last meeting Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa announced at a press conference recently.

“There was a time through the proclamations for Covid and the bans on travel that we had stopped these schemes of taking out patients to New Zealand,” she added.

The medical scheme is funded by the Government of Samoa with assistance from the New Zealand government.

It comes as India was also offering to send doctors to Samoa to undertake surgeries and provide additional skills training for Samoa medical personnel.

The first two patients, one for heart surgery and the other with a liver condition, were sent earlier this month.

RNZ reports the Prime Minister Tu'ilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, made the announcement two weeks ago, saying it costs the country a fortune to send people overseas.