A proposed merger of the Ministry of Health and the National Health Service in Samoa will go ahead this month, the prime minister says.
Samoa PM Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Photo: RNZ Pacific /Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said he would meet with management of both agencies next week.
The government would not go back but go ahead after a commission of inquiry into the merger handed its report to cabinet, Tuila'epa said.
Meanwhile, the prime minsiter said the World Bank had offered a grant of $US12 million to assist health programmes fighting non-communicable diseases as well as to provide equipment for medical treatment in district hospitals.
The government had decided some surgeries should be carried out in district hospitals to avoid overcrowding the main Moto'otua hospital in Apia, he said.
Another commission of inquiry into the deaths of two infants at Safotu district hospital last month was still awaiting the results of analysis from overseas, the prime minister said.