The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) is taking a decisive step to raise the standard of faith-based healthcare across the country, setting its sights on making every one of its facilities a model of quality and compassionate care.

The Executive Director of CHAG, Dr Peter Yeboah, says its goal is not merely to expand access to health services, but to ensure that every Ghanaian receives dignified, safe and effective care - no matter where they live.

This renewed commitment follows CHAG’s assumption of full leadership of the SafeCare Quality Improvement System, after six years of close collaboration with PharmAccess Ghana.

SafeCare, a globally recognised framework developed by PharmAccess and its partners, provides measurable, evidence-based standards that help health facilities strengthen systems, improve safety, and deliver better outcomes for patients.

Since its introduction in Ghana, the programme has helped dozens of CHAG hospitals and clinics achieve significant gains in service quality and accountability.

The official handover ceremony, held in Accra, brought together leaders from CHAG, PharmAccess Ghana and SafeCare International to celebrate what both sides described as a “transformational journey.”

The event marked a symbolic milestone - the point at which local expertise, capacity and leadership had grown strong enough to fully own and drive a programme once led by external technical partners.

According to Dr Yeboah, the moment represents more than a change in management. It marks a shift in Ghana’s healthcare model — from donor dependency to local sustainability, from partnership to ownership, and from external validation to homegrown excellence.

“On this day, we solemnly pledge to take over the leadership of SafeCare. We expect that in the near future, or the long term, every CH facility - the entry point or the criteria - will be a CHAG facility that’s at least Level Three or Level Four, aspiring to Level Five. That is the mission we embrace,” he said.

Dr Yeboah emphasised that CHAG’s vision is rooted in faith and driven by evidence, combining Christian compassion with measurable quality standards.

He added that the SafeCare approach has already transformed health outcomes across CHAG’s network of hospitals and clinics and has positioned the Association as a national leader in quality improvement.

“We expect that in the near future, or the long term, every CHAG facility - the entry point or the criteria - will be a CHAG facility that's at least Level Three or Level Four, aspiring to Level Five.

"That is the mission we embrace. So, we never expect any CHAG facility to be Level Two. No, that would not be characteristic of a CHAG facility. That is the vision we aspire to,” he added.

PharmAccess, an international health development organisation that pioneered the SafeCare standards in Africa and beyond, officially transferred operational leadership and a sustainable model for continuous implementation to CHAG.

The move cements CHAG’s role as a key national partner in advancing healthcare quality, equity and patient safety.

Dr Yeboah commended PharmAccess for its “technical support, sustained collaboration and service, saying the partnership has been instrumental in changing the landscape of healthcare quality in Ghana.

He noted that 39 CHAG facilities have now attained SafeCare Level Four status, with many more showing measurable improvements in patient safety, institutional performance and reputation as trusted centres of care.

He also reaffirmed CHAG’s commitment to ensuring that SafeCare remains fully integrated into its internal systems - guiding audits, performance reviews, and strategic planning across all member institutions.

The health expert said that, “Our goal is to make every CHAG facility a safe space for dignified, compassionate and high-quality healthcare that meets global standards while responding to local realities.”

The Executive Director described the transition as an act of faith and leadership - a symbol of CHAG’s readiness to take responsibility for its mission.

For CHAG, this new chapter represents more than institutional growth; it embodies a national vision where quality care is a right, not a privilege.

Dr Yeboah said the Association’s ultimate goal is to make Ghana’s faith-based health network a reference point for sustainable, high-quality healthcare in Africa and beyond.