The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has come under growing pressure to provide clarity on the planned transition of more than 300,000 teachers from the current private medical insurance scheme to the Social Health Authority (SHA), amid fears of potential disruption to critical health services.
The commission is preparing to migrate teachers from the Minet-led consortium to the new public health insurance framework. However, teachers’ unions warn that the process risks destabilising educators’ access to medical care if not handled transparently and in a timely manner.
According to union officials, the current contract with the underwriter is nearing expiry, yet key transition mechanisms remain unclear. They are now demanding assurance that teachers will not find themselves without cover in the middle of the shift.
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“We expected the TSC to sign another contract with the underwriter before finalising transition issues, but that has not happened. The earlier the TSC becomes clear on these matters, the better,” one union leader said, warning that the livelihoods of teachers and their dependents are at stake.
The SHA scheme is meant to streamline health coverage for public servants under the national framework. But the scale of enrolling hundreds of thousands of teachers has raised logistical and financial concerns. Teachers have also cited gaps in rural health-facility coverage and delays in approvals as sticking points that require robust planning before transition.
Union representatives argue that despite the magnitude of the policy shift, consultation has been inadequate, with some claiming they learned of the transition through media reports rather than formal communication from TSC. They insist the welfare of teachers must take priority and that there must be no gap in service delivery as negotiations continue.
Teacher representatives are now calling on TSC to publish a clear road map, detailing timelines, benefit structures, hospital networks, and contingency measures should the transition face delays or technical hurdles.
As anxiety builds among educators nationwide, stakeholders are urging the commission to move quickly — warning that uncertainty over medical cover poses a risk not only to teachers’ wellbeing but also to the stability of the education sector.
By Kithinji Njeru
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