The Social Health Authority (SHA) has urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to terminate its current medical insurance contract with Minet Kenya and instead enroll teachers in the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund.
This bold recommendation comes just days after TSC informed the Parliamentary Education Committee that SHA lacked the capacity to absorb over 300,000 teachers across the country into its healthcare system.
According to SHA, all teachers and their dependents are eligible for the Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits package, which operates under three key funds: the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHC), the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Critical, and Chronic Illness Fund (ECCIF). However, SHA emphasizes that employers like TSC can offer complementary insurance for extra benefits through recognized private underwriters.
Currently, TSC provides a medical cover through Minet Kenya, a private insurance company. SHA clarified that it does not manage the Minet cover and suggested that the commission reconsider its arrangement by transitioning to the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund. Through this fund, TSC would be able to provide complimentary benefits based on a government-managed budget rather than relying on private providers.
As it stands, over 21.6 million Kenyans have already registered with SHA, with around 50,000 new registrations occurring daily. SHA has also partnered with over 8,000 healthcare facilities nationwide to ensure service availability.
The debate around teachers’ medical insurance is intensifying as concerns about the quality, accessibility, and management of the current Minet medical scheme continue to surface. Teachers’ unions and education stakeholders have repeatedly raised issues about service delays, lack of medicines, and poor hospital experiences under the Minet scheme.
If TSC heeds SHA’s advice, teachers could soon see a significant shift in how their health insurance is managed, potentially improving healthcare access while saving the commission millions in insurance costs annually.
With Vision 2030 goals in mind, SHA’s proposal also aims to ensure universal healthcare coverage is streamlined for all Kenyans, including public servants like teachers. The coming days will be critical as TSC deliberates on SHA’s recommendations and prepares a way forward.
For inquiries or more information about SHA registration, Kenyans are encouraged to call the toll-free line: 147.
