Transcript
AUTAGAVAIA TIPI AUTAGAVAIA: It was revealed by the Prime Minister and he said it is a lot cheaper. It is a lot cheaper to take our patients for medical referral overseas to India instead of New Zealand and he said 20 million Tala, around $US10 million dollars, the government is spending every year now, sending patients to New Zealand for operations and other medical treatments.
DON WISEMAN: So is it cheaper to go to India even though the distance is that much greater?
TA: Yes it is a much longer trip from Samoa to India but the cost of that travel to India and back and the cost of treatment is a lot cheaper - but he didn't provide any figures.
DW: So the likelihood is that everyone who will need medical treatment offshore will go to India, or just some people or just some types of conditions - what?
ATA: I spoke to the director general of health on this move by the government and he said well if there are patients that urgently need the medical referral then India's too far and New Zealand's much closer to us.
DW: Samoa has had a strong link I think with the DHB[District Health Board] in South Auckland. Is this something that has been talked about with them?
ATA: Well there is no mention of that from the government but I can confirm that Government but I can confirm, from the director general that two patients were sent last week - one has a liver problem and one is a heart patient. A third one did not go because of his/her condition and because of the distance to India.
DW: Where in India do they go?
ATA: Well up until now we have been trying to get information from the health about the move and the information still has not come out.
DW: What do the people think about going to India for their operations?
ATA: Since the government has made the move last week to send the two patients, still the information about these referrals to India instead of New Zealand, people still haven't made up their minds what to say, because we have to wait on the two patients sent last week on the outcome of their treatment in India.
DW: India is developing closer and closer links with Pacific countries and I understand that Indian doctors are going to be brought into Samoa as well.
ATA: Of course the Prime Minister was saying that India is willing to bring their medical doctors here - surgeons and all,, most probably nurses as well, to do surgical operations here for some of the patients here in Samoa. And he says that will give local doctors here another window to learn more from the doctors in India.
DW: What sort of discussions are there for the need for Samoa to improve its own medical services so it doesn't have to send people overseas?
ATA: Well now the medical university - used to be a private one here, a partnership with the ministry of health and some people in American is now under the National University of Samoa, so there are more locals taking studies to become doctors but to answer your question I don't have any information.
