Parliament has summoned the leadership of Minet Insurance Brokers Kenya Limited to shed light on the Ksh14 billion complaints surrounding the medical cover for teachers.
Scheduled for today, the National Assembly Education Committee is set to engage in discussions with Minet’s Managing Director Sammy Muthui, specifically focusing on the quality of medical services offered by Bliss HealthCare (K) Limited, a provider under the insurance umbrella.
In a letter dated November 21, 2023, the committee, chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly, has outlined ten key issues for Minet to address.
Highlighted in the committee’s letter is the concern over the geographical accessibility of medical services for teachers nationwide.
Furthermore, the committee is seeking insights into Minet’s role in structuring the medical cover arrangement and is interested in identifying any third parties involved in this coverage.
The summons come amid mounting complaints from teachers regarding the medical insurance they receive.
The committee, prompted by these concerns, is actively investigating the matter, prompting the scheduled meeting with Muthui.
The letter encourages Muthui to bring technical officers who can assist in addressing queries that may arise during the committee’s deliberations.
Foremost among these is a clarification on the terms and conditions delineated in the contract between Minet and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Additionally, lawmakers seek details on the benefits of the insurance cover extended to teachers, expressing concern about delays in approvals for advanced medical treatments in other healthcare facilities.
The committee aims to understand why Minet does not directly provide medical covers for teachers, and is keen on discerning the disparities between teachers’ coverage and that of other clients.
Addressing the practice of teachers being required to supplement their coverage with an extra Ksh100 by Bliss Healthcare, the committee is also investigating the reasons behind teachers being initially directed to under-equipped health facilities before potential referrals to more established hospitals.
Of note, MPs have expressed curiosity about the apparent dominance of companies associated with billionaire Jayesh Umesh Saini in the medical insurance sector and public service tenders.
The state has identified significant investments by Umesh in the medical service commission linked to nine leading service providers.
TSC CEO Dr Nancy Macharia, in a previous committee appearance, defended the awarding of the tender to Minet, citing the commission’s need for over 2 billion shillings annually to enroll members in the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) scheme.
Macharia emphasized the competitive nature of the tender process, asserting that Minet emerged as the winner through due process.
By Viola Chepkemoi
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