The government has hailed the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) for the significant contribution it was making to efforts at bringing quality healthcare to the people.

Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Victor Bampoe, said it had been playing vital role in the health delivery system-accounting for about 35 percent of the nation's health facilities.

CHAG operates 290 hospitals and clinics spread across the country, many of these established in difficult-to-reach deprived rural communities.

Dr. Bampoe gave the commendation at the opening of the 48th annual conference of the Association, underway in Kumasi.

The four-day meeting is being held under the theme "Financial sustainabililty of CHAG at all levels: How do we do things differently".

It is providing the platform to discuss ways to keep their operations going amid dwindling international donor support.

Dr. Bampoe urged the Association to insist on high professional standards to assure patients of quality care.

"They must adhere to the Patients Charter - be client-focused and dedicated to the job of saving lives".

He pledged the government's resolve to strenghten the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make it beneficial to more people.

Dr. Peter Kwame Yeboah, Executive Director of CHAG, said they remained committed to working hard and making sacrifices to heal the sick.

Their dedicated frontline health professionals were out in the remotest and neglected parts of the nation to attend to the health needs of the people.

The Reverend Dr. Fred Degbey, former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, urged the Association to explore other sources of funding to complement what they were getting from both the government and donors.