Budget kerfuffle causing serious problems for EMS operations

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Emergency Medical Services operation is in limbo, with the lack of necessary “supplies” that have not been replenished.

This was confirmed by EMS Chief, Galumalemana Popo Avegalio in response to our questions.

Samoa News received complaints by several EMS personnel that sometimes they are paying for fuel out of their own pocket and they say this is unacceptable.

“I can confirm we have not received our budget for the last four months for our supplies, which is critical to our operation.

“We are in a limbo because we don’t have a budget. We don’t have medical supplies, pharmaceutical supplies; medical gas such as oxygen, and fuel, which is critical to our line of work.

“We are rationing now our supplies and its evident from the Fono leaders that our budget had since been transferred back to the LBJ hospital and we are still waiting,” said the EMS Chief.

Samoa News reached out to LBJ Chief Executive Officer Moefaauo Bill Emmsley for comments on the issue, and there was no response to the email, but his office called to set an interview with Samoa News at 11a.m today.

The EMS Chief said he’s looking for other ways to address the shortage of their supplies.

“Right now we’re collecting money and paying for fuel out of our pockets and that is what we are doing now.

“However we will get to the point where we will have no supplies but as Chief I cannot allow that to happen,” he said.

In September the Fono approved the $693.41 million budget for the new financial year.

The original budget submitted by the Government allocated funding for several divisions of the Department of Public Safety as independent agencies, including the Territorial Correctional Facility, Marine Patrol and the Fire Division.

Also the EMS was transferred to the newly established Search and Rescue Agency.

However the Senate and House of Representatives made several changes including transferring back the TCF, Marine Patrol and the Fire Division to the Department of Public Safety and the EMS back to the hospital.

The Senators believed the move by the Governor to create the new agencies is illegal and they are anticipating to seek the Court’s indulgence to determine and interpret the law to ensure the transfer is valid.

As reported earlier by Samoa News the American Samoa Medical Center Authority budget for the new financial year outlines an increase of $15 million allocated for salaries.

In the previous fiscal year personnel was $29.81 million, but the new budget sees an increase up to $45.27 million.

The entire budget for the hospital is $145 million compared to $65.5 million previously.

This is an increase of 7 percent from the last two fiscal years, says the Chief Executive Officer of the LBJ hospital, Moefa’auo Bill Emmsley in an earlier statement.

The EMS has been faced with predicaments since earlier this year with the closing down of the old EMS building across from the hospital.

All EMS vehicles and equipment were removed in September and have since been transferred to Tafuna.

The EMS is temporarily occupying a section of the Department of Health’s quarters in Faga’alu for the time being.

BACKGROUND

In September, top officials from LBJ including the CEO, Moefa’auo Bill Emmsley, along with the acting director for the new Search and Rescue Agency (SRA), Faamasino Galoia and EMS Chief Galumalemana Popo Avegalio appeared before the House Health committee for a hearing to discuss the reason behind the move to remove EMS from LBJ and put it under the SRA, which was established by an Executive Order issued by Gov. Lemanu Peleti Sialega Mauga.

It was during the hearing that faipule learned that LBJ CEO Moefa’auo and the acting director of the new SRA Galoia agreed to trade the EMS building for payroll for the EMS employees.

Galoia told the House committee during the hearing at that time, he had no choice as he wanted the EMS crews to get paid.

This statement did not sit well with the faipule from Aua, Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Fu’e Allen, who is also an LBJ board member.

Faimealelei did not mince words when he addressed the issue about removing EMS from LBJ and the agreement to trade the EMS building for employees’ salaries.

Faimealelei acknowledged Galumalemana’s service to EMS.

According to Faimealelei, it has been more than 40 years since Galumalemana started the first EMS service in the territory from the back of his own pickup truck.

“Now, look around us, we have EMS all over American Samoa. We have EMS certified crew, we have ambulances.

“The service has grown for many years now, but what is happening now, our government leaders did not want to recognize the importance of this service,” Faimealelei said.

According to Faimealelei, he has been dealing with EMS issues for the last 20 years since he retired and up until now, EMS issues and problems are still piling up.

Speaking about the trade of the EMS building for employee’ salaries, Faimealelei was not in agreement.

“Galoia, I know you’re a retired solider and I respect that, but you know, you don’t sell one thing cheap to get something else as a trade, and that is my big concern about the agreement between you and the LBJ CEO,” Faimealelei said.