Teachers to get improved SHA benefits as govt addresses IVF, cancer care concerns
Teachers to get improved SHA benefits as govt addresses IVF, cancer care concerns
Thousands of teachers will now receive improved benefits under the Social Health Authority (SHA) following months of complaints about their healthcare benefits.
The announcement was made by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday, September 17, following a high-level meeting with the teachers’ unions and the Teachers Service Commission.
According to Duale, the discussions focused on teachers’ concerns about access to various medical services under the Mwalimu Comprehensive Medical Cover.
“Chaired a joint consultative meeting with KUPPET and the Social Health Authority (SHA) to review implementation of the Mwalimu Comprehensive Medical Cover under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), address emerging challenges and strengthen access to timely, dignified and quality healthcare for teachers,” Duale stated.
Issues raised included access to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) services, oncology treatment, management of chronic diseases, monthly prescriptions, specialised care, and last-expense services for teachers.
Under the new plan, the ministry is also reviewing efforts to expand specialised healthcare services for teachers, with Duale noting that SHA currently has 7,031 contracted healthcare facilities nationwide.
“SHA currently has 7,031 contracted healthcare facilities, including 122 haemato-oncology facilities, while efforts are underway to expand specialised services such as Bone Marrow Transplant within the country,” he added.
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The ministry and the teachers have also agreed on measures to improve the handling of complaints and ensure teachers receive services covered under their medical scheme.
A simplified SHA benefits guide is also being developed to help teachers and other members of the public understand the healthcare services and entitlements available to them.
At the same time, both parties further agreed to introduce monthly implementation reports, prioritise medical incidents raised by beneficiaries and take action against healthcare facilities that fail to comply with the scheme’s requirements.
The new development now seeks to end persistent complaints from teachers since their transfer from the old Minet Kenya medical scheme to SHA.
Many teachers have reported being turned away and denied services at large private hospitals because the new SHA systems have not been fully integrated or due to administrative challenges, leaving several teachers without emergency services.
The teachers have also complained about a reduction in benefits, forcing them to pay out of pocket for services that were previously covered.
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