10 Nov 2008

American Samoa restates US standards for doctors

11:58 am on 10 November 2008

American Samoa's Governor, Togiola Tulafono, has vetoed a bill that would have waived the requirement for doctors practicing medicine in the territory to be US certified.

The bill would have exempted doctors already licensed by the Health Regulatory Board and working for LBJ Hospital and the Health Department from the requirement to sit and pass the United States Medical Licensure examination.

About 30 doctors at LBJ do not have the certification and have been given to December the 31st of this year to be in compliance.

Governor Togiola Tulafono say the bill represents a regression in credentials and certification which the territory cannot afford.