The Samoa Nursing Association President has commended the Public Service Commission for resolving issues relating to the merger between National Health Services (N.H.S.) and the Ministry of Health.

Solialofi Papali'i told Samoa Observer that finalising the post-merger working conditions of healthcare workers will ensure confusion and unnecessary issues relating to their overtime payments and salaries while working in public hospitals are avoided. 

She said one of the complications in claiming overtime for nurses in recent years was the result of confusion surrounding the different legislation that could guide how healthcare providers are remunerated. 

"Sometimes there was confusion on whether to use provisions provided under Labour and Employment Relations Act (LERA) 2013, which guided how the National Health Services employees were paid or the Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) Act 2004," said Solialofi. "So this move was a long-time coming since the merger of the two entities was approved. 

"We commend the commission and also the Government through the Ministry of Health in finalising this to ensure that the workers are getting what they are entitled to using the provisions provided for by one Act."

Solialofi also acknowledged the efforts of the Health Director-General and his Management in handling the negotiations with the P.S.C. on the issue. 

"I'm aware that the letters from P.S.C. on the proposed changes that would be made effective next month were made directly to the Director General of Health. 

"And even after all the concerns raised by members of the medical fraternity and the public on the issue, we didn't want to intervene as we thought it would be best to put our trust in those leading the Ministry to fight for what our healthcare providers deserve. 

"So I'm pleased to have been informed that the P.S.C. has improved their proposal and has decided to scrap the fixed rates they initially proposed to the ministry. I have been told that the negotiations have been very fruitful and successful so we are happy with the outcome.

"The main thing for me is that we finally get to make this transition official and to iron out all the post-merger problems so things can run smoothly without any problems. 

"Another important thing to note is that P.S.C. now understands the value of the work undertaken by the different healthcare providers working for the Ministry of Health."

This newspaper previously reported on the objection from the Samoa Medical Association (S.M.A.) on the initial proposal from the P.S.C. on doctor's overtime payments and salary packages.