Teachers protest despite deal to remove capping on SHA medical cover

Barely a day after the Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that the Social Health Authority (SHA) would immediately withdraw tariff locking to allow teachers’ access to healthcare services without capping or co-payments, teachers in Nandi County on Friday staged demonstrations, arguing that the out of pocket payments were still in effect.

A spot check by Citizen TV revealed disquiet among teachers, who accuse government of shortchanging them and replacing a healthcare scheme that was proven and working with one that is inefficient and inaccessible.

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers Union (KUPPET) in Nandi County staged a protest over challenges experienced under the new SHA medical cover.

The teachers expressed frustration with the current scheme, saying it has made it difficult for them to access quality healthcare.

They particularly faulted the introduction of capping on outpatient visits, arguing that it has left many teachers struggling to meet medical expenses.

Tecla Lagat, KUPPET official, Nandi branch, said: “I want to implore the government to prioritise the teachers’ welfare. That is the backbone of nation building. Matters health is very important. We are dealing with teachers who are already stressed financially.”

Paul Rotich, another official, stated: “Teachers have gone for treatment and the capitation of Ksh.1,200 is not even enough for a full haemogram. Teachers are forced to dip into their pockets to pay for consultation and medication.”

The protests came barely a day after the union's top brass reached an agreement with SHA on Thursday in Nairobi, ostensibly removing the bottlenecks hampering access to quality care for teachers.

SHA had assured teachers countrywide the government would remove tariff locking immediately pending further negotiations.

In the agreement seen by Citizen TV, SHA committed to reconfigure the system to halt capping and out of pocket immediately, stating: “To ensure health systems serve and do not frustrate teachers, SHA will immediately withdraw the tariff locking currently configured in the system. Locked tariffs shall only be implemented after comprehensive negotiations are concluded”

Teachers deny that assertion, saying their access is still capped per outpatient visit. They also point out lack of specialised facilities where they can access health services.

“Level 4, 5 and 6 hospitals are in Uasin Gishu, here in Nandi we have only one level 4 hospital, the rest are level 2 and 3. If we go as far as capitation, I want to tell you that we are disappointed and we’ll not allow it,” Rotich added.

Anthony Gioche, Executive Secretary of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Nakuru branch, stated: “They met, they agreed even we got the communication. But what they agreed on and what's on the ground is different. Members are still lamenting because it's true things are not working. You cannot juggle life or the health of a teacher. We are waiting for things to work, failure to which we have instruction from our teachers. We can do otherwise.”

Disgruntled teachers have accused the government of false promises that are not their reality at the point of service, and are now threatening to down their tools if their grievances are not addressed by Monday when schools reopen, raising concerns of a lame start to the second term of the academic calendar.