W. Samoa Needs

More Doctors

From 'Our Own Correspondent APIA, August 25.

A SHORTAGE of doctors in the Western Samoan Government Medi cal Service has been a serious prob lem for the Government as well as the general public for many years and has become worse recently.

There are, at present, only two medi cal officers in the Territory—the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. J. Lopdell, whose time is occupied with Administrative matters and sanitation; and Dr. D. L.

Frost. Consequently, these two doctors are overburdened with work in a popu lation of nearly 80,000 people and there is a great deal of public dissatisfaction.

It is recalled that, before the first World War, when Samoa, under German rule, had less than half the present popula tion, there were six doctors practising, five of whom were private practitioners amongst whom were an eye specialist, a surgeon, and a specialist for women’s and children’s diseases. Apparently New Zea land medical men find Western Samoa unattractive from a financial and other points of view.

It has been that the Gov ernment should undertake an advertis ing campaign to try to attract Govern ment-subsidised private practitioners, not necessarily from New Zealand, but from England, Australia, USA or Europe.

A number of medical officers have lately come to Samoa for short periods, or hav ing come for a longer term have left the Territory before their three years’ con tracts expired. They found conditions uncongenial.

The vote of the Medical Department

for the current year is £150,000, but it is of little use to spend money on new hospitals and equipment, if there is a lack of competent medical officers to use these facilities.