The Social Health Authority (SHA) has clarified that all teachers and their dependents are eligible for health benefits under the new universal healthcare framework, just like any other registered Kenyan contributing to the scheme.
In a statement, SHA said the benefits package is offered through three main funds — the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHC), the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Critical and Chronic Illness Fund (ECCIF).
These funds collectively provide registered members with access to preventive, primary, and specialised medical care.
According to SHA, over 21.6 million Kenyans have already registered under the new system, with an estimated 50,000 new registrations daily. To ensure accessibility, SHA has partnered with more than 8,000 healthcare facilities across the country, enabling citizens to access services conveniently in both public and private hospitals.
The Authority also clarified that employers such as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) are permitted to provide complementary medical cover for their employees through recognised private insurance providers. However, this cover is separate from SHA’s universal health benefits.
“The Social Health Authority does not manage the TSC’s complementary medical cover obtained from a private insurance provider,” the statement reads.
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“However, TSC can enrol its members in the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, where they can determine additional benefits based on the fund’s budget.”
The clarification comes amid questions from teachers’ unions and educators on how the new SHA system integrates with existing medical covers previously administered under TSC.
SHA reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all Kenyans, including teachers and public servants, have access to quality and affordable healthcare through the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
By Philip Koech
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