CHAG sets up committee to investigate allegations
The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) has set up a five-member committee to investigate the alleged extortion of money from patients by the authorities of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Koforidua.
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The committee, which has two weeks to submit its report, was set up in response to a directive by the Minister of Health.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Executive Director of CHAG, Mr Peter K. Yeboah, said the association was “very much concerned and highly disturbed” about the development which came to them as a surprise, through the media.
The issues
The CHAG is an organisation with about 300 health facilities and health training institutions owned by different Christian denominations.
There are media reports that the St. Joseph’s Hospital charged patients GH¢6,000 to undergo what was supposed to be free knee and hip replacement surgeries.
According to the reports, the hospital was only supposed to host ‘Operation Walk Syracuse’, a US medical charity, that was in Ghana last April to conduct free knee and hip replacement surgeries for some 50 shortlisted Ghanaians who suffered from various forms of joint arthritis.
They said the hospital breached the contract it had signed with the US charity by charging its patients that amount.
A rejoinder by the hospital denied media reports that it fleeced its patients.
In a rejoinder issued on behalf of the hospital by the Cardinal Law Group, a law firm, the hospital said it was “disingenuous and unfortunate for any person to be purporting to be disseminating information to the public to rather accuse the hospital of extorting money from patients”.
CHAG vision
According to Mr Yeboah, the allegations contradicted the core values of the association to promote the healing ministry of Christ and help in providing the health needs of the people, especially the poor and marginalised in fulfilment of Christ’s-like vision.
He said the issue was of high public interest, so, an interrogation into it was needed to find out the accuracies or otherwise to clear the air.
“As a fraternity, we believe in accountability and transparency so we are very much particular in protecting, preserving and promoting our corporate identity,” he said.
‘We are still committed’
Mr Yeboah stated that the committee was required to make recommendations to forestall the recurrence of such incidence with the CHAG member institutions.
He said member health facilities had over the years provided treatment to millions of Ghanaians through various mission programmes to Ghana.
