Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital at Moto’otua, where a brief power outage on 12 December 2025 prompted an official clarification from the Ministry of Health. Img / illustration

The Ministry of Health wishes to formally respond to the Samoa Observer breaking news article dated Friday, 12th December 2025, titled “Hospital generators kick in late.” The article reported that the generator at the National Hospital, Moto’otua, took almost 30 minutes to activate following a power outage, allegedly affecting patient care and medical services.

The Ministry confirms that this information is incorrect and provides the following verified technical report to ensure accuracy and transparency.

Verified Technical Findings – Power Outage at Moto’otua (12 December 2025)
On Friday, 12th December 2025, at approximately 6:00pm, the hospital experienced a power outage. Following a full assessment by the Ministry’s Maintenance Division, the findings are as follows:

1. Generator Activation Time
   • The Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) hospital generator activated after a 47-second delay, in accordance with the system’s programmed settings.
   • This timing aligns with the safety protocols established by the manufacturer for essential health facilities.
2. Impact of EPC Power Fluctuations
   • The EPC power supply was fluctuating significantly at the time of the outage.
   • Due to these fluctuations, the generator required additional time to stabilize its voltage output to avoid unsafe supply power to the hospital building.
   • This is a built-in protective safety feature designed to prevent equipment damage, electrical hazards, and potential harm to staff and patients.
3. Load Transfer Safety Design
   • The generator is not permitted to transfer load to the hospital while EPC voltage remains unstable.
   • The system is designed to wait until all three electrical phases fully disconnect before taking over the building load. This prevents dangerous back-feeding or equipment stress.
4. Manufacturer’s Cool-Down Protocol
   • During periods of fluctuation, the generator is required to undergo a cool-down period before shutting down.
   • This is part of the standard safety configuration to preserve generator lifespan and ensure operational reliability during subsequent outages.

Assurance to the Public
At no point during the incident were critical patient services left unsupported for an extended period, as suggested in the article. The automated generator system functioned exactly as designed, prioritizing the safety of patients, staff, and hospital infrastructure.

The Ministry encourages media reporting on essential health services with the Ministry prior to publication to avoid unnecessary public concern.

The Ministry of Health remains committed to maintaining reliable, safe, and resilient health service operations for Samoa.

Press release from the Ministry of Health, Government of Samoa.