Kuppet Demands Reinstatement of Medical Insurance for Teachers.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has urgently called for the restoration of the medical insurance scheme for teachers. Health facilities under this scheme announced they would stop services starting Monday, July 8. Consequently, teachers in regions like Vihiga, Nyeri, Nairobi, and Mombasa have been denied medical services.
Kuppet’s acting secretary-general, Mr. Moses Nthurima, reported that nearly all private and mission hospitals accredited under the scheme had stopped offering services to teachers and their dependents. Now, only public hospitals are available, but they are insufficient, often lacking necessary equipment and reagents for lab tests. This makes the process of seeing doctors challenging.
The union is demanding an explanation from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) regarding the teachers’ plight despite the significant government investment in the medical insurance scheme. Mr. Nthurima emphasized that many teachers have been forced to pay for services out of pocket, while others are detained in hospitals due to the suspension of inpatient services.
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Human Dignity Undermined
Teachers are essential in the education system, yet many cannot perform their duties because they are sick. Despite the government investing Sh15 billion in the medical scheme, teachers are back to organizing fundraisers to cover medical and funeral expenses. Access to medical care is a matter of human dignity, and without it, one’s dignity is significantly undermined.
Mr. Nthurima stressed that teachers are pillars in their communities. Kuppet demands the immediate reinstatement of the medical insurance scheme to ensure teachers receive the services they are entitled to. The union insists that this is a right, not a privilege.
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Concerns Over National Examination Budget
Simultaneously, Kuppet raised concerns about the reduction in the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) budget. The council’s budget has been cut to zero, with the government not allocating any funds for administering national examinations. With only three months left before the exams, this means there will be no national examinations this year unless parents cover the costs.
Kuppet National Chairman Omboko Milemba highlighted that even after the government declared basic education free, parents still pay examination fees. He emphasized the need to safeguard the integrity of national examinations scheduled in the next three months.
Mr. Milemba echoed Mr. Nthurima’s concerns about the medical insurance cover. Many hospitals have complained of not receiving payments from TSC. Kuppet is requesting the Teachers’ Service Commission to take responsibility for teachers’ medical bills when they seek treatment. The commission must act as a surrogate parent for teachers and allocate the promised funds to fully support the medical scheme.
Kuppet Demands Reinstatement of Medical Insurance for Teachers.
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