The People's Republic of China has agreed to repair the deteriorating Moto’otua National Hospital, Minister of Health Valasi Tafito Selesele told Parliament on Thursday.

Valasi said a recent meeting with the Ambassador of China to bid farewell to the Chinese medical team led to conversations on the problems that required assistance. 

Speaking during the Government response to the National Budget, the Minister said the Good Samaritans agreed to fully repair the main hospital, a priority for the high-level meeting in October. 

He told the House that many raised matters about the hospital and one of the main problems is the structure, something he says is not a fault of the donor partner. 

Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi had previously urged the Minister of Health and Government to fix the main hospital given King Charles III medical condition. 

Tuilaepa said the King was sick and the first place he would be heading to was the national hospital and its state is not a good sight. 

Meanwhile, Valasi also responded to queries raised by several members about the progress of the construction of district hospitals and upgrade work. 

Regarding a proposed district hospital at Samatau and Falelatai, the Minister said the project was held up due to objections from electorates on land designated for it. 

He noted there was an elderly man who wrote to the Ministry advising of his offer to have the district medical facility on land he owns. 

But Valasi said this is a matter that needs to go through the proper channel and for the Member of Parliament to ensure that an agreement is consented to by the district. 

Moving on to the Lufilufi district hospital, he said, the village council had visited his office to reiterate their position to retain the facility at the current location. 

He said this project will likely start in the next two months. 

As for the Sataua district hospital, the Minister said someone initially applied to do the supervision work for $130,000 but later asked for $300,000. 

Given this major variation, Valasi said the project came to a halt and the contract was put through tender again. He said this would proceed once approved. 

In the district of Aana, a report on the Leulumoega hospital's condition in 2017 and 2018 shows that the structure is affected due to its proximity to the sea. 

Valasi urged the district M.P. to consider looking for another vacant land to relocate the hospital. 

Just down from Leulumoega hospital is the Faleolo medical centre, the Minister said the U.S. Government has offered to fund extensions to the facility including doctors' residences.