The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) was established as a Voluntary Professional Association by the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) and the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) in September 1967 and subsequently registered as a Corporate Body, the Church Hospital Association of Ghana, on 21 November 1968 under the Trustees (Incorporation) Act 1962, Act 106. In 1984, its name was changed to the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG). Membership of the Association is open to any Christian faith-based health institution recognized by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) evolved to a Network (Umbrella) Organization that coordinates the Health Services of Christian Churches in Ghana that broadly fall under: -
Being a non-governmental network organisation, CHAG consists of 21 Churches which are all involved in the provision of Health services: Hospitals, Clinics, Health Centers, Primary Health Centers and Training Institutions.
Each Church has its own Church Health Coordinating Unit (CHCU). CHAG is the body through which the Christian Church Health Facilities / Programmes liaise with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to ensure proper collaboration and complementation of government efforts at providing for the health needs of Ghanaians.
Since its creation in 1968 CHAG’s membership has grown from 25 Member Institutions (MIs) in 1967 to 168 in 2008. Currently, the network manages a total of 182 Member Institutions: (58 Hospitals, 76 Clinics, 19 Health Centres, 15 Primary Health Care programmes, 3 specialist facilities and 10 Training Institutions). CHAG is operating in all 10 Regions of Ghana and in 113 Districts. The number of CHAG staff on Government payroll as at 2008 was 7254.
The Member Institutions (MIs) are located strategically with the aim of reaching the marginalized and poorest of the poor who are predominantly located in the rural (underserved) areas. A few can now be found in some of the big cities serving the health needs of the poor and vulnerable populations in the slums that have been created by urbanization. As such CHAG plays a complementary role to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
Along with the Ghana Health Services (GHS), CHAG is the 2nd largest provider of health services in the country. It is estimated that approximately 42% of total health services in the country are provided by CHAG’s member institutions.
