Teachers in Kwale County are grappling with a healthcare crisis due to delays in remitting medical funds by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to the Minet Teachers Medical Scheme and the failure of the Social Health Assurance (SHA) programme.
Many teachers, who rely on the medical insurance scheme, have been turned away from hospitals and pharmacies after their medical bills remained unpaid. As a result, some are forced to pay out of pocket for treatment, while others go without essential medical care.
Bashir Kilalo, the Secretary of the Kwale branch of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), said that despite the government deducting medical fees from teachers’ salaries every month, health providers often claim that no funds have been deposited.
“Our teachers are suffering. The government fails to remit medical funds on time, and teachers are left spending the entire day in long queues waiting for approvals,” Kilalo said.
Kilalo also highlighted that there are times when Minet refuses to approve medical bills, leaving teachers stranded in hospitals without treatment.
The ongoing delays and lack of communication have led to mounting frustration and a sense of neglect among teachers.
“It’s unfair for the government to deduct medical funds from teachers’ salaries without fail, yet they cannot access the medical services they’ve already paid for,” Kilalo emphasized.
He called on both the TSC and Minet to be more transparent about the funds and ensure that hospitals receive timely payments.
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Regarding the SHA, Kilalo stressed that the government should establish regional offices to assist teachers whenever issues arise with the program. Currently, teachers are unsure of who to contact when SHA fails to provide the expected services.
Kilalo further added that the government must honor its commitment to improving healthcare services for all citizens. He clarified that teachers are not opposed to the SHA program, but they expect it to fulfill its promises.
The healthcare crisis is not only affecting teachers’ well-being but also impacting their performance in schools. Kilalo shared that many teachers have been forced to miss classes while trying to seek medical attention, which in turn negatively affects student learning.
“When a teacher is unwell and unable to access treatment, it directly impacts students because there is no one to teach them. The government must take this issue seriously,” he said.
He added that when teachers are denied access to crucial healthcare services, it is not only frustrating but also humiliating. Kilalo emphasized that teachers deserve better and should not have to struggle to access a service they have already paid for.
In response to these concerns, President William Ruto addressed a church service in Nairobi, reassuring Kenyans that the Social Health Authority (SHA) would be a game-changer in healthcare service delivery.
While acknowledging the existing challenges, he urged citizens to be patient as the government works to resolve the issues affecting the system’s implementation.
By Shaban Omar
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