KNUT and KUPPET Officialls Demonstrate at Minet Insurance Offices
Officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) staged a protest at Minet Insurance offices in Eldoret City, expressing dissatisfaction with the declining quality of medical services provided to teachers. Their primary concern was the suspension of services at key hospitals, including Reale Hospital, Life Care Hospital, and Top Hill Hospital, which had previously catered to educators under Minet’s insurance scheme.
Union leaders strongly condemned Minet’s actions, arguing that denying teachers access to these medical facilities was unjust and detrimental to their well-being. According to Sammy Bor, KNUT’s Executive Secretary for the Chepkoilel branch, the abrupt discontinuation of services has severely impacted teachers, particularly those suffering from chronic and terminal illnesses. He emphasized that such decisions violate the fundamental rights of educators who contribute to the insurance scheme through salary deductions.
Bor called upon the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to urgently address the matter and ensure the reinstatement of services at the affected hospitals. He further insisted that Minet should reinstate these essential medical services within 24 hours, warning that failure to comply would not be tolerated. He decried the situation, stating that it is unacceptable for teachers to suffer due to administrative failures, despite their consistent contributions to the insurance scheme.
Paul Biwot, a KUPPET official from Elgeyo Marakwet, also criticized Minet’s decision, highlighting the logistical challenges faced by teachers due to the restriction to a single medical facility in Eldoret. He noted that educators from six counties rely on Eldoret for healthcare services, making it impractical to limit them to just one hospital. Biwot warned that if the issue was not resolved immediately, teachers would resort to industrial action, including boycotting classes starting Wednesday, February 5.
He further raised concerns about overcrowding at the only remaining hospital, arguing that this could compromise the quality of healthcare services provided to teachers. Additionally, he questioned the rationale behind the decision to suspend services in all major hospitals, calling for immediate corrective measures.
Financial Crisis at Tenwek Hospital
Meanwhile, Tenwek Hospital is grappling with a severe financial crisis due to unpaid dues from the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). This financial strain has significantly affected the hospital’s operations, causing delays in essential services and salaries.
Robert Langat, the hospital’s board chairman, disclosed that the institution is owed nearly one billion Kenyan shillings, with NHIF alone accounting for 591 million. He explained that these arrears have made it increasingly difficult for the hospital to pay suppliers and employees, thereby threatening its ability to continue providing quality medical care.
Langat clarified that while donor funds are typically allocated for capital projects, the hospital depends on operational revenue to meet recurrent expenses such as staff salaries and medical supplies. He cited a recent five-billion-shilling donor-funded project but noted that despite these investments, the hospital still struggles to cover operational costs.
The financial burden is further exacerbated by the high cost of retaining senior medical consultants, each of whom requires nearly one million shillings in monthly remuneration. Over the past two weeks, crisis meetings have been held with key stakeholders, including World Gospel Mission, international partners, and the hospital’s board, in an attempt to address the situation.
Despite ongoing engagements with the Ministry of Health, Cabinet Secretaries, and Principal Secretaries, no significant progress has been made in resolving the debt issue. Langat expressed concern that the government appears to be neglecting its obligations, particularly the timely disbursement of NHIF and SHA payments.
Suspension of Teachers’ Medical Cover
As a consequence of the financial challenges, Tenwek Hospital recently suspended medical cover for teachers and police officers, citing non-payment of outstanding dues. According to Langat, NHIF alone owes the hospital over 200 million shillings, while SHA has pending arrears exceeding 120 million. The delays in payment have also disrupted the procurement of critical medical equipment, as suppliers have halted deliveries due to non-settlement of invoices.
Langat urged Kenyans to pressure the government into fulfilling its financial commitments, emphasizing that failure to clear the arrears could lead to the collapse of essential health services. He lamented that despite the establishment of a state-of-the-art Cardiothoracic Training Centre last year, NHIF had only disbursed 200 million shillings, which is insufficient given the hospital’s growing debts.
The hospital board has called for urgent government intervention, warning that if the financial crisis persists, vital medical services at Tenwek Hospital will be severely compromised. They stressed the need for immediate payment to SHA and NHIF to prevent further disruptions in healthcare provision.
With the mounting frustrations from teachers’ unions and the financial woes at hospitals like Tenwek, the healthcare system’s sustainability remains in question. As educators demand better medical coverage and hospitals struggle to stay afloat, all eyes are now on the government to provide a lasting solution to these pressing issues.
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