‎Kisumu teachers faults Govt over slow implementation of SHA as new health scheme

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education (KUPPET) Kisumu branch has expressed frustration over the slow manner in which the government is implementing the Social Health Authority (SHA), new health scheme for its members.

KUPPET Kisumu Executive secretary George Osura said whereas SHA is still under migration from formally NHIF to SHIF and now to SHA, its slow in offering the much-needed services to to teachers of Kisumu County and Kenya as a whole, the quagmire is in the making of the National Government through Ministry of Health.

‎Speaking to the media in Kisumu, Osura said everything happening with SHA is by design, noting that the government can choose to be efficient or just fail by doing business with this critical sector.

‎“The gamble we see in health sector where the Government just decides overnight to make drastic changes without proper piloting is catastrophe to the teaching fraternity,” Osura said

Already, he said, there are lawful mechanisms through which the State mobilizes resources to actualize the right to health in a sustainable and inclusive manner, but they have chosen to fail.

‎From AON Minet to now Comprehensive SHA, Osura said, the problems remain the same.

‎The Unionist also said that the new scheme approvals take unnecessarily longer time even though teachers pay for this insurance in real time by check off system.

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‎He added that most facilities have no approvals from KMPDU to offer particular services hence teachers have to travel far and wide to access services in few distant facilities already approved.

‎Osura noted that approved facilities complain of government taking longer to remit their claims; hence they prefer offering services through other Health Insurance schemes owned by particular Individuals in government.

‎Other challenges he noted includes lack of clear information on which facility offers what service and which personnel is available to attend to our teachers.

“Most facilities have capped rates beyond which, teachers are usually forced to pay for drugs or asked to get drugs from private pharmacy. This is another sad scenario’ he said…

‎Through comprehensive SHA coverage framework, Osura said the government through the Ministry of Health has an obligation to ensure teachers are assured of holistic, accessible and continuous healthcare services that span from prevention, treatment and recovery process.

‎’We need a working Health Insurance package not only to safeguard tachers’ health and that of their dependents but also to reinforces the principle that a healthy teacher is central to a strong and effective education system.’ He said.

‎By  Fredrick Odiero