Kenyan teachers are set to shift to the Social Health Authority (SHA) after their unions, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) agreed with the state insurer and the Teacher’s Service Commission (TSC).
The understanding which was signed on Monday, will take effect on December 1, and ensures that medical benefits for all teachers will remain uninterrupted as they transition from the previous medical cover under Minet Kenya, to the new national scheme managed by SHA.
SHA will now take over the administration of teachers’ medical insurance following the broader plan by the government to have all public health insurance schemes consolidated into a single and efficient entity.
The unions said that the move will guarantee continuity of care and better access to medical services for teachers and their dependents across the country.
Akello Misori, the KUPPET secretary general said that the agreement safeguards the welfare of teachers and that no teacher will be left without a cover during the transition.
He also added that both the state insurer and the TSC were engaged to ensure that no member shall suffer any disruption in medical services and termed it as a win for all teachers.
The KNUT secretary-General, Collins Oyuu emphasized that the teachers’ unions have been assured of a seamless data migration process and that their existing medical benefits will be honored under the new system.
“Teachers can now walk into hospitals without worry. The new system is meant to improve service delivery and not to reduce it,” he said.
In order to oversee the transition and address any emerging issues, TSC vowed that it will continue working closely with the unions and the Social Health Authority.
The move to SHA is part of President Ruto’s administration effort to implement the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework, that is aimed at ensuring every citizen has access to affordable and quality healthcare services.
