There's concern differences high up in Samoa's health system may be behind the deaths of two babies this month.
The one-year-olds died at a district hospital the same day they were immunised.
Photo: 123RF
Samoa's prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the deaths after measles, mumps and rubella injections could be linked to possible differences between Samoa's Ministry of Health and the country's National Health Service.
The health system became two separate entities 12 years ago in a drive for more efficiency and accountability.
A merger had been proposed and a report on that is due next week.
Meanwhile the attorney general Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff said they are examining possible manslaughter charges. He said it's an absolute priority to get to the bottom of the deaths and two probes are underway.
"We're not going to stop at just these two investigations. We're going to look at whether there's warrants for further enquiries into the whole system. We're taking this very seriously. It's actually the priority right now," Lemalu said.
He said police were investigating whether there was enough evidence to bring criminal charges against medical staff involved.
