Gov’t extends medical cover for civil servants after strike notice issued

The government, through the Ministry of Public Service and Human Capital Development, has now extended medical insurance cover for civil servants until November 21, 2024.

Public Service Principal Secretary Amos Gathecha said the Comprehensive Medical Insurance Scheme (CMIS) for civil servants covers employees of both the national and county governments, including staff of the National Youth Service (NYS).

PS Gathecha, in a notice issued on Tuesday, said the scheme – which was previously administered under the now defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) – initially expired in June this year before being extended to September.

He stated that the scheme will now continue till next month under the new Social Health Authority (SHA), thereby enabling “seamless transition and effective service delivery” to beneficiaries.

“The contract was executed for a period of one year with effect from 1st July 2023 to 30th June 2024 and was extended for three months upto 30th September 2024,” stated PS Gathecha.

“Following the lapse of the extension of the Civil Servants Medical Insurance Scheme on 30th September 2024, the State Department for Public Service in consultation with Social Health Authority (SHA) has agreed to extend the contract up to 21st November 2024.”

In light of this development, contracted service providers (health facilities) have hence been directed to ensure beneficiaries access medical cover as required.

“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to inform you of the continued provision of medical insurance coverage for Civil Servants until the lapse of the extension on 21st November 2024. Please also note that appropriate mechanisms for continued medical provision upon the lapse of this extension period are being finalized,” added the PS.

The notice comes days after public civil servant unions on Tuesday faulted the SHA rollout early this month over a lack of continuity in providing the said medical cover.

The unions cited the transition process for leaving out critical employee benefits, increased deductions with inferior services and loss of jobs among others.

Consequently, they issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government that if their concerns were not addressed, all the unions would go on strike.

“We call upon the National and County governments to urgently address these issues and ensure that civil servants are not left without proper healthcare coverage. Our members cannot continue to face increased deductions for diminished healthcare services,” they stated in a joint statement.

“Should these concerns remain unaddressed within the next 14 days starting today all the unions undersigned will proceed to an industrial action.”

The civil servants now say that the government’s extension of the medical cover by another month is not a lasting solution, insisting that their strike notice is still on as their other demands remain unaddressed as well.