The Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), Dr. Peter Yeboah, has called for greater inclusiveness, equity, and synergy in Ghana’s healthcare system.
Dr. Yeboah emphasised the importance of equitable resource distribution across the health sector.
“Health defies boundaries. We must move from silos to synergies, from identity-based services to collective, holistic service delivery,” he urged.
During a visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health to the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman on Thursday, April 24, the CHAG CEO called for collaboration and shared national responsibility, stressing the need for an integrated approach to healthcare planning and delivery.
The visit formed part of efforts by Parliament to gain firsthand insight into healthcare delivery across the country by directly engaging health professionals and assessing service challenges on the ground.
Competition and duplication, he said, have no place in quality healthcare delivery—hence the need to provide equal resources to CHAG hospitals.
“We are for collaboration, not competition. Cooperation, not conflict. Partnership beyond politics,” he declared.
NHIS Reimbursement
Addressing systemic challenges in the funding and financing of Catholic hospitals, Dr. Yeboah lamented delays in National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) reimbursements and called for the establishment of an economic tariff structure for service providers.
According to him, prompt reimbursement of submitted claims and the introduction of a fair economic tariff structure are essential, stating, “Illegal payments are symptoms of larger system gaps.”
He reminded the committee that CHAG pioneered the NHIS capitation pilot scheme and remains a vital partner in its national rollout.
“CHAG was included in the 2015 review to make NHIS more efficient, accountable, and sustainable. It’s a shared mission,” Dr. Yeboah said, referencing former President John Mahama’s reforms.
Dr. Yeboah emphasised the pivotal role of one of CHAG’s facilities, the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman, in serving surrounding regions including the Upper West, Upper East, and Northern Regions, describing it as a national asset.
“This is a referral centre for several constituencies. That shows that this hospital is a national asset providing a public good,” he added.
Dr. Yeboah praised the Holy Family Hospital for providing accessible, quality healthcare across the middle and northern corridors of the country, noting that it serves as a critical point of care for patients traveling between multiple regions.
According to him, one cannot travel to the Upper West or Upper East without passing through Techiman, stressing that the hospital sits at a geographical crossroads and is well-positioned to evolve into a teaching hospital.
He recounted an incident in which a former Health Minister received treatment at the hospital without being recognised, later expressing intent to transform it into a teaching hospital due to the exceptional care he received.
Dr. Yeboah thanked the Members of Parliament for their advocacy, describing them as “passionate and ardent supporters of CHAG.”
“Be assured that this hospital—CHAG’s number one in terms of output, impact, and innovation—will continue to partner with the government to achieve universal health coverage,” he affirmed.
The visit solidified CHAG’s commitment to national health development and showcased the Holy Family Hospital as a beacon of healthcare excellence.
