7 Nov 2005

Samoa doctors concerns before Parliament later this week

7:00 pm on 7 November 2005

A report into the concerns of public service doctors in Samoa is due before Parliament later this week.

The Samoa Medical Association, which represents the doctors who have been on strike over low pay and working conditions for nearly ten weeks, is reported unhappy at the report, and is understood to be drafting a response.

The inquiry recommends that starting salaries for graduate doctors remain the same and doctors salaries be reviewed based on expertise.

It also recommends higher staffing levels, shorter hours for outpatient doctors, and that more doctors be brought in from overseas, so local staff can undertake specialist studies or other qualifications.

The inquiry also said the Department of Health was only partly to blame for the doctor's strike.