A teachers union has asked the National Treasury to immediately release funds for the teachers' medical scheme, saying the crisis has put members' health at risk.
According to the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), over Sh11 billion has not been remitted to the service providers and health facilities are turning away teachers.
Kuppet officials yesterday said that teachers should not suffer due to government inefficiencies. The union has warned that if the issue is not resolved, more hospitals may withdraw from the scheme, leaving thousands of teachers without health insurance cover.
“We demand the immediate release of medical capitation funds by the National Treasury to guarantee the provision of healthcare services to teachers. The funds were last released in September following the return-to-work formula and court consent signed between Kuppet and the commission to end the August and September 2024 industrial action by Kuppet. The strike was in response to budget cuts for the medical scheme and withdrawal of services by hospitals due to persistent delays in the disbursement of the funds to them,” Kuppet deputy secretary-general Moses Nthurima told a press briefing at the union headquarters in Nairobi.
Mr Nthurima expressed concern over the government's delay in disbursing funds meant to facilitate medical services for teachers.
“The government knows its responsibility. We will not keep issuing ultimatums, but one day, teachers might have no choice but to take action,” he said.
He noted that hospitals continue to deny teachers services due to non-payment from the medical underwriter, Medical Administrators Kenya Limited.
“Many hospitals are withholding services or demanding out-of-pocket payments from teachers. This crisis is entirely due to the National Treasury’s failure to remit funds. Some hospitals have even stopped treating teachers altogether, forcing teachers to seek medication in pharmacies and chemists,” said Mr Nthurima.
“Teachers’ health is paramount. Delaying their access to medical care is a violation of their right to healthcare and flies in the face of the right to human dignity. Teachers’ health is also a major determinant of their productivity at work,” he added.
Medical allowances paid to teachers were halted in 2015 when the government introduced the medical scheme that is administered by a consortium of insurance companies led by Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers. Contributions from teachers' salaries were pooled together to fund the scheme, with teachers contributing up to Sh3,000 monthly. However, due to the delays in payments, the provision of services has remained inefficient.
“This is money deducted from teachers’ salaries. When the Treasury delays remitting the capitation, it is as if they are withholding teachers’ salaries. We urge the government to ensure medical services are seamless so that teachers can focus on their work,” Nthurima stated.
Kuppet also raised concerns about the quality of services provided by Minet, saying that some of the best hospitals available to teachers have been converted into referral centres, further limiting access to quality healthcare.
“We are asking Minet to stop converting reputable hospitals into referral facilities. Teachers are now forced to seek treatment in dispensaries and sub-standard hospitals. This must stop,” said a KUPPET official.
Additionally, the union reported receiving complaints from teachers across the country regarding delays, denial of services, and overall poor treatment by medical service providers.
“Teachers are dying in numbers because of this crisis. We want Minet to take teachers’ health seriously and for the government to release funds immediately,” Mr Nthurima added.
In a press statement released on February 5, 2025, Minet announced that, after consultations with the TSC, 17 hospitals across the country have been designated as referral facilities.
“The Teachers’ Medical Scheme Consortium wishes to inform all beneficiaries of the health insurance programme that minor adjustments have been made to the scheme’s medical service providers aimed at enhancing the referral management system, and ensure more efficient access to specialised care nationwide,” the statement stated.
