The Social Health Authority (SHA) has asked the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to end its medical insurance contract with Minet Kenya and enrol teachers in the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund.
The request comes days after TSC told the Parliamentary Education Committee that SHA could not absorb the more than 300,000 teachers nationwide into its healthcare system.
SHA said that all teachers and their dependents are eligible for the Social Health Authority benefits package, which is structured around three key funds: the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHC), and the Emergency, Critical, and Chronic Illness Fund (ECCIF).
SHA, on its part, pointed out that employers like TSC can still provide complementary insurance through recognised private underwriters for additional benefits.
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Over 21.6 million Kenyans are registered with SHA, with about 50,000 new sign-ups daily. SHA has also partnered with over 8,000 healthcare facilities nationwide to improve service access.
Concerns over the current Minet Kenya scheme have continued to mount, with teachers’ unions and education stakeholders citing service delays, drug shortages, and poor hospital experiences. The debate around teachers’ health coverage quality and management has intensified in recent months.
If TSC adopts SHA’s advice, teachers could see a major shift in their health insurance arrangements, potentially enhancing access to healthcare services while saving the commission millions of shillings each year.
SHA’s proposal aligns with the Vision 2030 agenda, aiming to streamline universal healthcare coverage for all Kenyans, including public servants. TSC is expected to deliberate on the recommendations and announce the next steps in the coming days.
By Joseph Mambili
