“I’m really glad that we have volunteers like them who pay their own fare to come to Samoa to help those who can’t afford the expensive treatment from overseas. I want to thank them for their free service that is useful to our people.”
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A free medical clinic is apparently not so free.
That’s why members of the public who turned up at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital yesterday to see a specialist medical team from overseas who are meant to be offering their services for free were surprised when they were asked to pay $10.
The specialist group is being is led by Dr. John Paopao, an Orthopedic Surgeon from Honolulu. They arrived in the country last week to conduct free clinics in Upolu and Savai’i.
While patients flocked in at Moto’otua yesterday for the “free clinic” they were told to pay a $10 fee first.
“I came here knowing the clinic is free not expecting any fees to pay,” said Vai Silia’i, of Letogo and Faga Savai’i.
“I understand that the work from the overseas doctors is free but I don’t understand why the hospital would charge us $10 to see them when their service is free.”
Mrs. Silia’i knew about the specialist group through relatives in Savai’i who contacted her, telling her the doctors can help her with her skin problems.
“I’m really glad that we have volunteers like them who pay their own fare to come to Samoa to help those who can’t afford the expensive treatment from overseas."
“I want to thank them for their free service that is useful to our people.”
The mother was told by hospital staff that yesterday’s schedule was full and had asked her to come back today to make an appointment to see the doctors.
She hopes to have the opportunity to make use of the free service before the volunteered doctors depart.
A father, Mata’afa Ketsu Mata’afa, of Vaisigano was also at Moto’otua to take her daughter to see the specialists.
Lucky for him, he didn’t have to pay anything for children as they are free.
But Mata’afa said he doesn’t agree with people being charged with $10 fees.
“I don’t understand why they would charge people with $10 when the doctors are offering their service for free,” said Mata’afa.
“To me it should be free of charge considering that they are here to do surgery on people for free.”
Another patient, Tino Taula, of Vaitele-fou said the government should “relax” the fees.
According to Mr. Taula, he believes that the government should be supportive of the people and who are finally getting “free help from good Samaritans”.
“The least they could do is give us a break,” he said.
“If the doctors are asking for nothing in return then why not relax their fees and let us make use of their good free service.”
The General Manager of the National Health Services, Leota Laki Sio was not at work yesterday when contacted for a comment.
A staff member who was not authorised to speak to the media, however, defended the fee.
“Whenever anyone comes here at the hospital to see a doctor, they have to pay a $10 fee,” she said. “It used to be $5 but that had increased.”
Asked about the volunteer doctors doing their free clinics, she replied, “yes even them”.
The specialist team had their free clinic in Savai’i last week.
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