CHAG review performance

Kumasi, April 12, GNA - A two-week performance review programme organized by the Ashanti regional branch of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) ended in Kumasi on Tuesday.

The review meeting was part of a programme dubbed: "Peer Participation Rapid Hospital Appraisal (for) Action (PPRHAA)," which aimed at researching and reviewing the various activities of Christian hospitals in the Ashanti region to identify weaknesses that hampered performance and map up effective strategies that will help improve the quality of service to their clients.

The programme is being supported by DANIDA.

Among the activities discussed and reviewed by the participants were patients' care, service performance output, internal and external management, equipment and infrastructure, finance as well as community relationships of the various member hospitals.

In an address, Dr. Sam Bugri, a consultant to the programme, said the review meeting, which was the first of its kind in the country, had brought out a number of issues was of importance to the efficient performance of the member hospitals. Among the issues were good accounting systems, community appreciation of their roles despite the expensiveness of their services and their cordial relationship with clients.

He commended members of CHAG for training their staff continuously to improve their performance.

Pastor Annor Boafo, the Director of the Ghana Adventist Health Services, said CHAG, would consider a suggestion to pay the premiums of the NHIS of needy patients who attended their hospitals. Mr George Adusei, a member of the research team on the programme, expressed concern about the lack of laboratory facilities, inefficient screening systems, lack of recovery rooms and anaesthesia theatres of some of the hospitals.

He charged the hospitals to initiate measures to provide these facilities to improve the quality of service to patients. 12 April 06