While Senators welcomed improvement plans for the LBJ Hospital, revealed at a hearing yesterday, they had their doubts.
Senator Malaepule Saite Moliga said, he didn’t have a problem with medical staff, rather it’s the board’s involvement in running the hospital that he takes issue with.
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Senator Magalei Logovii said that while the goals of the Acting CEO and Board are welcomed, he asked for a time frame for implementation—noting that the hospital has been plagued with the same problems for decades.
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The Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Tuiasaina Dr. Salamo Laumoli, a former dentist at LBJ Hospital and Department of Health, in a final statement at yesterday’s hearing said that many comments are made about having sons of Samoa take charge of the hospital. He said, Dr. Iotamo, Faumuina and Iulogologo, are sons of Samoa who were at the helm of the hospital. “But what did they do to improve the hospital?” he asked. According to Tuiasina, due to the culture of respect, staff go along with what these leaders wanted.
The senator also referred to the investigation involving the hospital’s former CFO, Emau Amosa.
During the Senate session that followed, Senator Malaepule Saite Moliga said that the chairman’s statements, which mentioned these individuals, were inappropriate.
Senator Tuiasina apologized and said, he mentioned the names only to make a point that these were sons of Samoa who used to be in charge of the hospital.
