- Bungoma East teachers say limited comprehensive SHA services are forcing some beneficiaries to seek treatment elsewhere.
- KNUT wants more health facilities accredited to ease congestion and improve access to inpatient services.
- Union officials are calling for intervention by SHA and health authorities to address the reported gaps.
Teachers in Bungoma East Branch have raised concerns over limited access to comprehensive Social Health Authority (SHA) medical services, with several health facilities in the town offering either restricted cover or no SHA services.
KNUT Bungoma East Branch Vice Chairman Jacob Temba has called for urgent intervention, warning that the situation is exposing teachers and other residents to difficulties in accessing essential medical care.
Temba said Webuye, one of Bungoma County’s major urban centres, does not currently have a facility offering comprehensive SHA cover for teachers, forcing some beneficiaries to seek treatment outside the town.
He said the situation had created what he termed a healthcare crisis, characterised by congestion in available public facilities, limited SHA accreditation and inadequate inpatient services.
“The situation is worrying. Teachers are being forced to travel to far-flung areas to access medical services because facilities within Webuye cannot provide comprehensive cover,” Temba said.
Teachers cite gaps in local facilities
A spot check of health facilities in the town indicates that Webuye District Hospital, a county government facility, provides SHA services but does not offer the comprehensive cover required by teachers.
The hospital also serves the general population, resulting in high patient numbers and congestion. Temba said frequent industrial action by health workers has further disrupted service delivery.
At Calvary Hospital, located along the Webuye-Kitale highway, SHA services remain unavailable following its suspension from the scheme, according to Temba.
He said the suspension had affected operations at the facility and reduced the options available to residents seeking SHA-funded treatment.
Webuye Hospital, situated along Chetambe Road, offers SHA services, but Temba claimed teachers seeking treatment at the facility have encountered difficulties accessing the services.
Meanwhile, Max Care Hospital, located near KMTC-Webuye, has recorded low activity, while Shinemed Hospital offers SHA outpatient services but does not provide inpatient cover.
Oasis Hospital, near Khetias Supermarket, also provides SHA services, although Temba described the available cover as inadequate.
Pramukh Hospital, near Webuye ACK School, was also cited among facilities facing challenges in meeting the healthcare needs of teachers under the current SHA arrangement.
Temba said the situation had exposed wider gaps in the implementation of the new health insurance system, particularly in urban centres where the demand for healthcare services is high.
He accused the relevant authorities of failing to adequately respond to concerns raised by the teachers’ union.
“The union has raised the matter, but little has been done to address the challenges. Teachers are becoming increasingly frustrated and demoralised,” he said.
KNUT wants more facilities accredited
The KNUT Bungoma East Branch, led by Executive Secretary Robert Mandila, is now pushing for the accreditation of additional health facilities in Webuye, particularly Level 3 and Level 4 hospitals.
The union argues that expanding the SHA provider network would ease pressure on existing facilities and reduce the need for teachers to travel outside the town for treatment.
Temba called on SHA, the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to intervene and address the situation before it escalates.
He maintained that teachers who contribute to the national health insurance scheme should have access to quality and timely medical services within their locality.
“Webuye teachers deserve better. Their lives matter,” Temba said.
The concerns come amid broader scrutiny of the rollout of SHA, with beneficiaries in different parts of the country continuing to raise questions over access, accreditation and the scope of services available at health facilities.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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KNUT Bungoma East Branch Vice Chairman Jacob Temba. He has called for intervention over reported challenges teachers face in accessing comprehensive SHA medical services in Webuye. Photo/Courtesy
