The Department of Health intends to retain DataHouse Consulting Inc. and its Talofa Pass portal after the company’s contract with ASG expires next year.
Director Motusa Tuileama Nua says DOH wants to convert to a fully electronic health declaration system for arrivals by next year.
At present, DOH is the only agency that is using Talofa Pass, but travelers have the options of registering online or giving their information in person upon arrival at the airport.
DOH staff are posted at the airport to take passport information, phone numbers and place of residence.
Motusa explained that the electronic health declaration system is needed in case the territory is hit by another epidemic, and the information captured on Talofa Pass would be crucial to response efforts.
He said DOH intends to sign a contract with DataHouse once the company’s contract with ASG runs out next July.
At a hearing of the Senate Select Investigative Committee, in October, Saipai Cassens of DataHouse said the company will remain in American Samoa even after their contract with ASG ends. She said the Department of Health is using the Talofa Pass portal for its health questionnaire for arrivals, and DataHouse is providing a help desk for the system.
She said all of the information that was captured on Talofa Pass from the start belongs to ASG, and will be turned over to the government when their contract ends.
During the COVID pandemic, Talofa Pass was utilized as a clearing house to approve travelers to and from the territory and applicants had to upload personal medical, immigration, and customs information on the portal.
