3 Jul 2009

American Samoa governor intervenes in doctor licensing woes

12:55 pm on 3 July 2009

The American Samoan Governor, Togiola Tulafono, has ordered the Hospital Authority Board not to take any action against doctors who remain uncertified according to US standards.

In an executive order, the governor has ordered a 60 day stay on a Board policy that as of July 1st it will no longer employ health care providers who are not licensed in accordance with the laws of the territory.

June 30th was the deadline that the Hospital Authority Board had given doctors at the hospital to comply with the United States Medical Licensure Examination.

The preamble of the executive order says the governor is informed that an impending crisis is at hand that endangers the public health, safety and welfare.

The deadline for local doctors to sit the US exams was already extended as it was to expire at the end of last year.