By Arnold Ageta
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Nyamira branch has voiced concerns about the Social Health Authority’s (SHA) capacity to manage teachers’ medical needs, citing its potential inefficiencies and limited coverage.
In a press statement, KNUT Nyamira branch Executive Secretary Evans Obiri stated that teachers are currently covered by Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers Limited.
”Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers provides comprehensive coverage which includes specialized consultations, dental and optical care, and chronic condition management,” Obiri explained.
He added that the cover caters to more than 400 thousand teachers and their dependents.
Obiri said that teachers in the Nyamira branch have been contacting KNUT leadership, urgently requesting the restoration of Minet as their medical cover provider.
”Minet’s medical cover is the most appropriate provider to address their medical needs,” read the press statement.
Mr. Obiri argued that the SHA has numerous inefficiencies and cannot provide the same level of services as Minet. Specifically, he noted that SHA does not cover critical services like X-rays.
”Teachers from the Nyamira branch oppose the transfer of teachers’ medical cover to SHA,” he warned. “We want the government to resolve the current problems in SHA before onboarding teachers.”
He believes that the challenges under the Minet plan are minor and can be resolved with the union’s intervention.
According to Obiri, the health facilities contracted by Minet are easily accessible to teachers.
He further argued that SHA services are offered in health facilities located in urban areas, which are typically congested.
”Will it be manageable now that all teachers and their dependents will need medical services from the same facilities?” Obiri asked.
Obiri also pointed out that SHA does not cover a final expense or group compensation.
”This is a time when teachers can sacrifice their meager earnings to seek medical attention in private hospitals,” he concluded. “We fear that our medical needs will be compromised if Minet Insurance services are scrapped.”
