DOCTORS PROTEST : File photo of the association of doctors Meeting Annual General.Meeting
By Staff Writer
An application by a foreign health practitioner, Zen’s Medical Clinic, to set up in Samoa, has brought a unanimous groan of protest from doctors in private practice.
The foreign medical practitioner and associated business group has applied to the Samoa Medical Council to be allowed to practice in the country.
It is unclear if the Medical Council has decided on the application yet but the Samoa Association of General Practitioners, SAGP, are unanimous in their protest.
The SAGP has set out a host of concerns against the Zen’s Medical Clinic, ranging from questionable benefits, unnecessary strain on local doctors, lack of enough experience in local healthcare needs and more.
The Medical Council is reminded as well of the 2022 amendment it approved prohibiting foreign medical clinics in Samoa.
The Zen’s Medical Clinic is also seen as already having a dominating presence in health cares services in Fiji more so in terms of immigration health clearance.
A full copy of the SAGP protest letter to the Samoa Medical Council Chairman Asiata Dr. Satupaitea Viali is published below in full :
Asiata Dr. Satupaitea Viali
Chairman
Samoa Medical Council
APIA
Re : Application by Zen’s Medical Clinic To Establish a Clinic In Samoa.
The Samoa Association of General Medical Practitioners (SAGP), wishes to express their disapproval with the application by Zen’s Medical Clinic, a foreign medical practitioner and associated business group, to established a medical and diagnostic clinic in Samoa.
After deliberations at an extraordinary meeting held on Friday 20th September 2024, a unanimous decision was made by the SAGP to relay our objection to the advancement of this application. Moreover, SAGP feels compelled to raise several issues that we believe warrant immediate attention by the Samoa Medical Council.
The following issues with regards to a foreign practitioner setting up a medical clinic in Samoa are of significant concern to the SAGP.
1. The application undermines the recent consequential amendment made by the Samoa Medical Council in 2022 prohibiting the establishment of medical clinics by foreigners in Samoa. This amendment was intended to safeguard the integrity of our health care system and to ensure that any expansion of services aligns with the best interest of our people. Allowing such an application to proceed would undermine this policy and could set an unfavourable precedent for future foreign entities seeking to exploit our health care sector.
2. We are concerned that there is minimal benefit to the people of Samoa and it outweighs the financial advantages the business group stands to gain. Our understanding is that the Zen’s Medical Clinic has a significant share of the private primary care sector in Fiji and is the primary practice providing immigration clearance in all of Fiji. From discussions he had with our local immigration panel doctors, he is determined to tap into the immigration medical clearance market in Samoa. It appears to the SAGP that Zen’s will prioritise profit over public health, with minimal benefit accruing to our nation. While Samoa’s health care system would undoubtedly benefit from investment , such ventures should be designed to genuinely enhance the capacity of our health services and the welfare of our people, rather than simply serving as a business opportunity for external parties.
3. Moreover, the greater share of our immigration and general practice market that Zen’s is able to achieve, the less there will be for our local panel doctors and GP’s.
4. Furthermore, the applying medical practitioners who are not Samoan lack sufficient experience and understanding of our local context and the Samoan health system.
As you are aware, the healthcare needs of our communities are unique and require a deep understanding of our social, cultural, and medical contexts. The absence of such experience may hinder the quality of care provided, thereby putting the health of our people at risk.
5. We fear that to circumvent a rejection of their application due to foreign doctors, Zen’s may approach local doctors within the public health system, which we anticipate will only further deplete our limited human resources within the public sector.
We respectfully urge the Samoa Medical Council to giver these concerns serious consideration in the assessment of this application and support the position taken by SAGP.
The Samoa Association of General Practitioners stands firm in its commitment to uphold the standards of medical practice in our country and to ensure the any medical service provided in Samoa is for the national interest.
Thank you for your attention too this matter. We look forward to your response and are happy to provide further input as needed.
Ma le fa’aaloalo tele.
Su’a Dr. Brown
Secretary
Samoa Association of General Practitioners (SAGP)