Tension is mounting among teachers over the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical scheme, with unions warning of a possible boycott following repeated complaints of delayed benefits and denied treatment in major hospitals.
The Kenya Union of Post‑Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) say the challenges have persisted months after the scheme’s rollout, raising fears about access to care and weak complaint‑resolution mechanisms.
KUPPET National Chairman Omboko Milemba said the unions had agreed to treat the rollout as a test phase, but a promised review after three months has yet to materialize.
“Teachers are being turned away from hospitals. Last expense and group life benefits are delayed. There is no clear structure on where complaints should be reported,” Milemba said, citing incidents at The Nairobi Hospital, Avenue Hospital, Guru Nanak Hospital and Aga Khan University Hospital.
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KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima warned that unless the issues are resolved, the union will advise members to boycott the scheme. He argued that the new arrangement has complicated access compared to the previous Minet insurance cover, which had clear reporting channels and emergency response systems.
“Under Minet, we knew exactly where to report and whom to speak to when there was a problem. Now we have to go through TSC to reach SHA, and that delay is costing lives. This is a government scheme, and that is part of the problem. There is confusion over responsibility. Teachers are being sent away from hospitals, and some have died,” Nthurima said.
KNUT Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno added that teachers have been forced to pay out‑of‑pocket for services, including a case in Homa Bay where a teacher was billed Sh24,000 despite being under the scheme.
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SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi dismissed the claims as isolated, noting that more than 225,000 teachers and dependents have accessed services. She said SHA has strengthened its communication channels, including a 24‑hour toll‑free line and dedicated email, and continues to enforce compliance through audits and contractual requirements.
“SHA has received a small number of isolated reports of teachers experiencing challenges when accessing care. These cases are not widespread or systemic and do not reflect the intended operation of the scheme,” Mwangangi said as quoted by one of the local dailies.
By Masaki Enock
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