The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, KUPPET Kisumu has urged the government to give teachers a comprehensive medical cover away from the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking in Kisumu,executive secretary Zablon Awange said that the hurried move to transfer teacher SHA without proper consultation will hurt teachers move as they are already overburden.
He added that the government should consider improving the current Minet Scheme instead of ruling it out and adapting the new medical scheme which is not yet stable.
Awange said that they will not tire to demand for better healthcare schemes for teachers even though their quest for a better medical cover has for many years never yielded any fruits.
“Many female teachers have experienced maternal deaths due to poor cover given by dubious medical insurance firms. Our TVET counterparts were given comprehensive covers after which their problems were solved, why not us,” Awange asked.
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Awange said they have experienced delays in approvals for surgeries and admissions in many hospitals, as some take many days adding that teachers are getting a raw deal.
“Many health facilities are giving generic drugs to the detriment of the members. It is the duty of the Teachers Service Commission to provide a better cover for teachers to support the teachers’ wellbeing.
He said dumping them into SHA without proper consideration of the vital role of teachers in the education sector could lead to unmotivated and ailing teachers hence worst results.
“The government is mistreating teaches when it comes to a comprehensive medical cover, even though it’s their duty to accord tutors proper scheme.
Awange lamented that the last expense has also been removed, as they used to get a medical allowance of between Ksh 3000/- and 6000/-
He said that teachers should be given chance to choose a cover they want and the type of hospital they would like to be moved to adding that SHA is still facing bottlenecks which will take long before it is streamlined.
Awange said they are now suffering in double deduction since they are paying for Mnet and SHA.
Fredrick Odiero
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