The 183 network of health facilities that make up the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) are struggling to deal with increased patient numbers as the strike by doctors at public hospitals enters week two.

Executive Director of CHAG Peter Kwame Yeboah revealed this Monday on ‘Burning Issues’, aired on Adom FM.

“Already there was pressure on us before the Ghana Medical Association strike and currently the situation is getting worse day in day out” Peter Yeboah stated.

CHAG is owned by 21 different christian church denominations.

Over 2,000 doctors within the Ghana Medical Association are holding the line to resign masse after Friday 14 August 2015 if demands for their conditions of service are not sorted out by government.

Government and GMA negotiations have broken down at least twice, the recent deadlock happening last Sunday.

Government teams are still discussing proposals and counter proposals in respect of the conditions of service document sought by the doctors.

Mr Yeboah is appealing to the government’s negotiation team and the leadership of the GMA to get to the negotiation table and hasten discussions to protect the lives of Ghanaians.

“We are all appealing to the government and the GMA to settle the issue amicably because the up and down is delaying and it is not healthy for our country currently” CHAG director stressed.

“We cannot joke with people’s lives so the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, the Ministry for Employment and Labour Relations and the Ghana Medical Association must come together {to reach a concrete deal] to halt the strike action” he adds.

President of the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners (SPMDP), Dr. Isaac Morrison, also said on the programme – which is hosted by Afia Pokua – that the demands by the GMA is appropriate.

He said public doctors deserve conditions of service, but suggested that the National Peace Council should intervene to get the GMA to soften their stance and call off the strike.

The consequences of the GMA strike has been debilitating.

One woman died Monday morning at a private clinic after she could not find any doctor at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to attend to her.

Some 14 junior doctors have also been sacked for joining GMA’s strike.

The leadership of GMA and its members are currently at Koforidua discussing the way forward about their strike as they continue negotiations with government.