In recent developments, seventeen doctors employed by the government in Samoa have been given until today to decide whether they will accept Cabinet-approved Direct Appointments as Heads of Departments, as recommended by the Public Service Commission (PSC). These offers were presented last week in accordance with Cabinet instructions.
Additionally, Cabinet has approved a payment of $7.3 million tala to settle outstanding overtime claims for doctors and nurses within the Health Ministry. This special financial package and benefits for medical healthcare providers mark the culmination of a review by the PSC aimed at standardising the remuneration of all medical staff according to the PSC Remuneration Scale, as prescribed by law.
Under the Direct Appointments approved by Cabinet, doctors have the option to enter into Service Agreements if they decline the position of Head of Department. According to Chairman Nonu Lemauga Saleimoa Vaai of the Public Service Commission, a Service Agreement would allow doctors to continue their careers as Private Medical Practitioners while working in Public Hospitals on a contracted hourly rate. This arrangement primarily aims to address staff shortages and provide on-the-job mentoring for young doctors, particularly House Surgeons.
Under this new arrangement, the 17 doctors in question would not be entitled to overtime pay but would receive a Responsibility Allowance equivalent to 60% of their annual paycheck, regardless of whether they worked overtime or not. This results in an average yearly income of approximately $190,000 per doctor.
Regarding Service Agreements, Prime Minister Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa explains that doctors who opt for this path would become Private General Practitioners (GPs) contracted to serve specified hours at a negotiated hourly rate within Public Hospitals. This option is mainly intended to address staff shortages and provide mentoring opportunities.
Nonu Lemauga Saleimoa Vaai clarifies that the merger of the National Health Service (NHS) with the PSC Remuneration Framework poses challenges, particularly regarding the salaries of senior doctors. The Direct Appointments aim to address the career progression of medical professionals to positions such as Head of Department and Consultant Specialists.
The Work to Rule option, which involves adhering strictly to contractual obligations, remains a possibility depending on the doctors’ response to the Direct Appointments and the compensation offered. The issue of overtime remains a key factor in negotiations between the PSC and the Ministry of Health.
In terms of managing overtime payments and minimizing future grievances, the PSC emphasizes adhering to work practices aligned with international standards, limiting daily work hours to a maximum of 16, including eight hours of overtime. The responsibility for managing overtime falls on the Ministry of Health Leadership Team and Medical Staff, with a focus on health and safety, environment, and work-life balance.
To address staff shortages and skill gaps, the PSC supports initiatives to engage expatriate medical staff and offers undergraduate scholarships for Medicine at the National University of Samoa Medical School. Additionally, negotiations are underway with bilateral partners to secure postgraduate specialist scholarship awards in priority areas such as pathology to address specialized skill shortages.
