The Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) will continue its review of the remaining mid-level management and junior positions within the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) in the coming weeks. 

In a statement posted on its official website on Friday, the commission also confirmed the signing of contracts for senior doctors as well as heads of health divisions with the P.S.C.

The commission also expressed its appreciation to members of Samoa’s medical fraternity for their hard work and dedication to serving the community. 

The Chairman and Board of the P.S.C. as well as the Health Director General and the M.O.H. management were also present at the special meeting. This marked the first phase of completing the National Health Service (N.H.S) and M.O.H. merger which was endorsed and approved by the former administration four years ago. 

“Today, we acknowledge God's work by giving recognition to the dedicated service(s) of our medical practitioners in Samoa through their commitments to contract signings this morning with the Public Service Commission,” the P.S.C. statement said. “We kicked start on a rough path to begin with the transitional arrangements for the senior employees but we ended on a high note with a positive outcome. 

“In going forward, we will continue our review of the remaining mid-level management and junior positions in the upcoming weeks, but for now, thank you for your patience, hardwork and valued contribution to the development of the Health sector in Samoa.”

The P.S.C. Chair, Nonu Lemauga Vaai confirmed with the Government-owned Savali newspaper that they were waiting for Cabinet approval of the compensation, allowances, salaries issues raised by the Samoa Medical Association. He told the newspaper on Wednesday last week that the commission gave doctors seven days to consider the negotiated proposed offer or consider service agreements. 

“[Doctors] will be given 7 days to consider the negotiated proposed offer or consider Service Agreements - mainly for Senior doctors who would opt to go private and work contracted hours at a negotiated rate with M.O.H. to assist staff shortage,” Nonu said.

The Samoa Observer understands that after weeks of ongoing negotiations between the S.M.A. and the M.O.H. and P.S.C., some of the senior doctors working within the service have been offered salary packages equivalent to that of Assistant Chief Executive Officers for other government ministries. 

It is understood that the President and Senior Members of S.M.A. have entrusted the issue to the senior doctors currently working within the service. A senior doctor, who spoke in the condition of anonymity, told this newspaper that the doctors working in the service have yet to agree on the terms and conditions of salaries offered by P.S.C. unanimously. 

Cabinet recently gave its blessings to the approval of direct appointments of certain senior positions at the M.O.H. together with their salaries and allowances as part of a SAT$1.08 million payment package. See below the names with designations and salary and allowances.