The Senate in American Samoa wants the local hospital to drop orders for staff to work reduced hours in order to cut costs.
It has asked the Governor, Togiola Tulafono, to direct the Hospital Authority Board to reverse its orders to staff.
The board announced last week that from the end of this month, non medical staff would have their working hours reduced by 1 hour a day.
All except two medical clinics will also open 7 hours a day instead of eight.
Senate President Lolo Letalu Moliga has written to the governor saying that the savings from the cut back in hours dwarfs the injurious effect the cut back will have on the health and lives of residents.
Lolo also accused the hospital board of blackmailing the government into giving it more financial resources by deliberatey making decisions that were very controversial.
