By our reporter
Minet Kenya has been challenged to streamline its operations to align them to the customer needs if it is given a third chance to continue offering medical insurance services to teachers.
This comes amidst frequent complaints from stakeholders that their performance is below par.
For the last 7 years, the insurer has offered a comprehensive medical cover to over 340,000 Kenyan teachers employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and their dependants.
Teacher sources indicate that the firm’s responses have been painstakingly frustrating; with some suggesting they must deal firmly with emerging issues that are raised by their customers.
Speaking to Education News recently, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Vihiga Executive Secretary Sabala Inyeni asked their employer TSC to improve the cover even as the service provider seeks to have the contract renewed.
“We want this cover to be harmonized and streamlined so that teachers are not frustrated any time they are seeking medical attention,” said Sabala.
The Union official complained of making numerous phone calls to the hospital authorities while sorting out teachers’ medical issues.
“Like in my case, I have put up two call centres specifically for this; it is like we are employees of Minet. We are forced to receive and make phone calls round the clock on behalf of distressed teachers. This should not be the case with a service provider which understands its mandate,” Sabala said.
KUPPET Narok Executive Secretary Charles Ng’eno told Education News that the scheme has done well especially on inpatient services.
He added that the scheme has seen teachers having bills amounting to thousands of shillings being bailed out.
However, he observes that there is a lot to be done on outpatient and approval of bills.
“Why should it take the intervention of the Union for the bills to be approved? A system that ensures efficiency should be established. Teachers have put their money into this cover and expect nothing less,” said Ng’eno.
KUPPET Busia Executive Secretary Okisai Moffats on his part stated that despite the scheme having been operational for the last seven years, it has been marred by a couple of challenges.
He said every Kenya citizen, and more importantly teachers, have a right to quality, affordable and accessible health care; a right that has been infringed by Minet.
“The scheme receives a total of Ksh6 billion from teachers and an additional Ksh3 billion from the government. Interestingly, the services rendered to the teachers are not commensurate to the money being deducted,” said Okisai.
He added that if teachers are not treated with dignity, the country will have lost since they are the ones who hold the future generations in their hands; when they are frustrated, the trickle-down effect will definitely affect the learners.
“It’s our hope and prayer that TSC and Minet will address the pertinent concerns raised to improve the scheme before any renewal of the contract,” said Okisai.
The Teachers Medical Scheme is designed around pooling of medical allowances from teachers into a consolidated fund to provide a comprehensive medical cover for eligible teachers and dependants, including group life (death in service cover), and last expense cover in case of demise of the principal member.
TSC advertised for the tender in August this year, and the winner will be required to cover outpatient, maternity, dental, optical, and emergency air and road evacuation services, as well funeral expenses for a three-year period, among other benefits.
