Amid SHA Payment Delays, Teachers Threaten Strike Over Suspension of Medical Coverage
Teachers from six counties in the North Rift region have issued a stern ultimatum to Minet, the insurance provider contracted by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), demanding the immediate reinstatement of medical services at key hospitals in Eldoret. The educators, represented by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), have given Minet a 24-hour deadline to restore the suspended services, warning that failure to do so will result in industrial action.
Union officials led a demonstration at Minet’s Eldoret offices, expressing their outrage over the abrupt suspension of services. They decried the difficulties teachers are currently facing due to the disruption, emphasizing the critical need for immediate reinstatement of medical access.
According to the union leaders, Minet unilaterally halted medical services at Reale Hospital, Life Care Hospital, and Top Hill Hospital, effectively denying teachers access to essential healthcare. They termed this move unacceptable, particularly considering the consistent deductions made from teachers’ salaries for medical insurance.
Sammy Bor, the KNUT Executive Secretary for the Chepkoilel branch, strongly condemned Minet’s decision, branding it as unjustifiable. He pointed out that many teachers, including those battling chronic and terminal illnesses, have been left without medical attention. Bor called upon the TSC to intervene urgently, ensuring that teachers can continue to access treatment at these hospitals. He further stressed that teachers’ mandatory contributions to the insurance scheme must guarantee them quality healthcare without interruptions.
“We are giving Minet 24 hours to reinstate services at Reale, Life Care, and Top Hill hospitals. Suspending medical services for our members is an insult to teachers in this country,” Bor stated.
“Our members’ contributions are deducted without fail, and they deserve the healthcare they pay for. This situation cannot be allowed to continue.”
KUPPET Calls for Urgent Action
Paul Biwot, a KUPPET official from Elgeyo Marakwet, echoed these concerns, accusing Minet of neglecting teachers’ welfare by restricting them to only one medical facility in Eldoret. He criticized the move as unfair, considering Eldoret serves educators from six counties.
Biwot announced that if the medical services were not reinstated promptly, teachers would boycott classes beginning Wednesday, February 5. He underscored that forcing teachers to rely on a single overcrowded hospital would significantly compromise their health and well-being. Furthermore, he questioned the rationale behind withdrawing services from all major hospitals in the region, calling for their immediate reinstatement.
Financial Crisis at Tenwek Hospital
Meanwhile, Tenwek Hospital is grappling with a dire financial crisis caused by unpaid dues from the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). The hospital’s board chairman, Robert Langat, revealed that the institution is owed close to a billion Kenyan shillings, with NHIF alone responsible for 591 million. These arrears have placed immense strain on the hospital’s operations, affecting its ability to pay suppliers and staff.
Langat clarified that while donor funding is strictly allocated for capital development, the hospital relies on operational revenue for salaries and daily expenses. He cited a recent five-billion-shilling project that was fully donor-funded but noted that essential costs such as staff salaries remain underfunded. The hospital’s senior consultants alone cost nearly one million shillings per month, adding further pressure on its strained financial resources.
Over the past two weeks, crisis meetings have been held with the leadership of World Gospel Mission, international partners, and the hospital’s board to explore solutions to the growing debt. Despite multiple engagements with the Ministry of Health, Cabinet Secretaries, and Principal Secretaries, there has been minimal progress in resolving the crisis. Langat voiced concerns that the government may be neglecting its financial obligations, particularly payments from NHIF and SHA.
Suspension of Teachers’ and Police Medical Covers
Due to the mounting financial challenges, Tenwek Hospital suspended medical covers for both teachers and police officers last week. Langat confirmed that this decision would remain in effect until pending payments were settled. He disclosed that NHIF alone owes the hospital over 200 million shillings, while SHA has outstanding arrears exceeding 120 million.
The financial constraints have also disrupted the procurement of critical medical equipment and supplies, as vendors have halted deliveries due to non-payment. Langat called on Kenyans to demand that the government fulfill its financial obligations, warning that continued delays could severely impact healthcare services at Tenwek Hospital.
He expressed frustration over the slow disbursement of funds, revealing that despite the launch of the Cardiothoracic Training Centre last year, NHIF has only released 200 million shillings to the hospital, an amount he deemed grossly inadequate given the institution’s accumulating debts.
Urgent Appeal to the Government
The hospital board has urged the government to prioritize payments to SHA and NHIF to prevent further disruptions in medical care. They warned that if the financial situation is not addressed promptly, essential healthcare services at Tenwek Hospital could collapse, leaving thousands of residents in Bomet and neighboring regions without critical medical care.
Union leaders continue to pressure both the TSC and the government to intervene, insisting that teachers should not be subjected to suffering due to mismanagement of insurance funds. As the deadline looms, the possibility of a teachers’ strike remains a real threat unless immediate action is taken to resolve the crisis.
Teachers across the region remain on high alert, with many vowing to stand firm until their medical cover is reinstated. With both unions united in their demands, Minet, TSC, and the government are under increasing pressure to address the grievances of the teaching fraternity without further delay.
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