Which hospitals provide referral care in Samoa's health system?

Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital on Upolu is the national referral centre, while Malietoa Tanumafili II Hospital is the main hospital on Savai'i. District hospitals usually assess and treat patients locally before referring complex cases to one of these hospitals.

How does emergency and urgent care work in Samoa's public health system?

District hospitals generally provide care around the clock, with nurse-led initial assessment and medical support through shifts or emergency call-back. Patients may be referred to TTM Hospital, MTII Hospital or another appropriate service when the local facility cannot provide the required treatment.

Which preventive health services are available through Samoa's health system?

Community screening can check blood pressure, blood glucose, body size and cardiovascular risk, while schools provide nutrition and body-mass-index screening. Samoa also offers vaccination services, family planning, antenatal care and communicable-disease screening through fixed facilities and outreach teams.

What should patients in Samoa know about medicines and continued treatment?

The public system uses a national medicines policy and an Essential Medicines List of about 170 medicines, with strong subsidies for many non-communicable-disease medicines. Availability can differ by region and supply conditions, so patients should confirm stock, follow-up arrangements and any local charges with the treating facility.

Health in Samoa

Samoa has a formal health system led and regulated by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Public hospitals and health centres provide most care, alongside private providers, non-governmental organisations, churches, communities and traditional practices. Access is strongest on Upolu and Savai'i, while remote island communities can face longer travel, staff shortages and supply limitations.

bySina&Tavita

The MOH coordinates public health, clinical services, health protection, rural health, mental health and professional regulation under laws including the Ministry of Health Act 2006, Mental Health Act 2007, Nursing and Midwifery Act 2007, Pharmacy Act 2007 and Dental Practitioners Act 2007. Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital on Upolu is the national referral centre, with surgery, medicine, paediatrics, intensive care, maternity and gynaecology, mental health services, dentistry and visiting specialists. Malietoa Tanumafili II (MTII) Hospital serves as the main hospital on Savai'i. District hospitals and health centres provide local first-line and basic care, with many district hospitals operating around the clock. Serious or complex cases may move from a district hospital to TTM or MTII, and some cases require assessment under the Overseas Treatment Scheme. Clinical Laboratory services operate around the clock and include blood banking, biochemistry, haematology, microbiology, serology and tissue testing. Available imaging includes X-rays, ultrasound, mammography and CT, although equipment failures can temporarily limit capacity. Lufilufi Health Centre provides around-the-clock care and can observe patients for up to five hours before referral when necessary. Prevention includes PEN Fa'asamoa and multidisciplinary village screening for people over 20, with checks such as blood pressure, blood glucose, weight, height, body-mass index and cardiovascular risk. Primary schools conduct nutrition and body-mass-index screening for Years 1 to 8. Family planning is available in district hospitals and health centres, antenatal care is available in all district hospitals, and high-risk pregnancies are referred for specialist care. Routine immunisation coverage was about 74% in financial year 2023/24, supported by fixed vaccination sites and mobile outreach teams on Upolu and Savai'i. Communicable-disease services provide case investigation, contact tracing, directly observed treatment, and HIV, sexually transmitted infection and tuberculosis screening. After discharge, care can include medicines, follow-up appointments, home care, intermediate care after early discharge and palliative care for people with serious illness or older people who are confined to bed. Non-communicable diseases account for more than 80% of premature deaths according to the cited WHO assessment. Common conditions recorded in financial year 2023/24 included acute respiratory infections, hypertension and gout, while major causes of death included sepsis, cardiac events, cancer and stroke. Mental health needs are increasing, and formal services operate through the MOH and TTM Hospital. The public medicine supply follows the National Medicines Policy and Plan for financial years 2023/24 to 2027/28 and an Essential Medicines List of about 170 medicines. Public-sector medicine needs are funded by the state, and non-communicable-disease medicines are strongly subsidised, but availability can vary because of supply, payment, staffing, internet and regional distribution problems. No current comprehensive public fee schedule was verified; local charges, private prices, transport costs and accompanying-person costs should therefore be checked with the relevant facility. A policy assessment identifies exemptions for children under 15 and people aged 65 or older, but the exact application should be confirmed locally. Patient-centred care, professional conduct, human rights and fairness are stated MOH principles, and a Patient Complaint and Grievance Policy exists. A comprehensive current local patient-rights charter was not verified. Health records, analytics and medicine logistics use systems including Tamanu, Tupaia and mSupply, although the wider health-information rollout remains fragmented. Waiting times can increase because of staffing shortages, and regional access is also affected by geography, staff turnover and supply chains.

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