KUPPET and KNUT Officials Protest at Minet Insurance Offices Over Medical Services.
Officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) stormed Minet Insurance offices in Eldoret City to protest against the quality of services at Bliss medical centers, one of the accredited providers for teachers.
The union leaders accused Minet of halting services at Reale Hospital, Life Care Hospital, and Top Hill Hospital, leaving teachers without access to essential medical care. They argued that this move was unacceptable and detrimental to the welfare of educators.
Sammy Bor, the KNUT Executive Secretary for the Chepkoilel branch, condemned Minet’s decision, calling it unjustifiable. He highlighted the dire situation faced by teachers, particularly those suffering from terminal illnesses, who are now left vulnerable without proper medical attention.
Bor urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to intervene immediately to ensure that teachers can continue receiving medical treatment at the affected hospitals. He emphasized that teachers contribute to the scheme through deductions and should not be denied healthcare.
He insisted that Minet must reinstate services at the hospitals within 24 hours, stating that suspending medical services for teachers is an insult to their profession and will not be tolerated any longer.
He further stressed the urgency of the matter, saying that teachers cannot be subjected to unnecessary suffering despite their mandatory contributions to the insurance scheme.
Paul Biwot, a KUPPET official from Elgeyo Marakwet, also criticized Minet’s actions, accusing the insurer of disregarding teachers’ welfare by limiting them to a single medical facility in Eldoret.
He pointed out that Eldoret serves educators from six counties, making it unreasonable to restrict them to just one hospital. Biwot warned that if the suspension remained in place, teachers would boycott classes starting Wednesday, February 5.
Biwot expressed concerns about overcrowding at the only remaining hospital and its negative impact on teachers’ health. He also questioned the rationale behind withdrawing services from all major hospitals in the region, calling for immediate reinstatement.
Financial Crisis at Tenwek Hospital
Meanwhile, Tenwek Hospital is facing a severe financial crisis due to unpaid dues from the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). The crisis has led to significant operational challenges.
Robert Langat, the hospital’s board chairman, disclosed that the institution is owed nearly a billion Kenyan shillings, with NHIF alone accounting for 591 million. He explained that these arrears have made it difficult for the hospital to pay suppliers and staff, threatening its operations.
Langat clarified that while donor funding is allocated strictly for capital development, the hospital relies on operational revenue to cover salaries and other running costs. He cited a recent five-billion-shilling project that was donor-funded but noted that essential expenses like staff salaries remain underfunded.
Senior consultants at the hospital each cost nearly one million shillings per month, further straining resources. Over the past two weeks, crisis meetings have been held with World Gospel Mission, international partners, and the hospital’s board to find solutions to the growing debt.
Despite repeated engagements with the Ministry of Health, Cabinet Secretaries, and Principal Secretaries, little progress has been made in clearing the arrears. Langat expressed concern that the government may be neglecting its financial obligations, particularly payments from NHIF and SHA.
The board has called for urgent action, warning that continued delays could jeopardize critical services at the hospital. The failure to settle outstanding payments has left the hospital in a precarious position.
Suspension Teachers’ Medical Covers
As a result of the financial strain, Tenwek Hospital suspended medical covers for police officers and teachers last week. Langat confirmed that this decision would remain in place until pending payments were settled.
He revealed that NHIF alone owes the hospital over 200 million shillings, while SHA has arrears exceeding 120 million. These outstanding payments have also led to the disruption of critical equipment procurement, as suppliers have halted deliveries due to non-payment.
Read Also: KUTVET Slams Govt for Harassing TVET Principals
Langat urged Kenyans to pressure the government to honor its financial obligations. He lamented that despite the launch of the Cardiothoracic Training Centre last year, the hospital has only received 200 million shillings from NHIF, a figure he deemed insufficient given the institution’s growing debts.
The hospital board warned that failure to address the payment backlog could cripple essential health services at Tenwek Hospital, which serves thousands of residents in Bomet and neighboring regions. They called on the government to prioritize payments to SHA and NHIF to avoid further disruptions in medical care.
KUPPET and KNUT Officials Protest at Minet Insurance Offices Over Medical Services
Follow Teachers Updates on Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, Telegram, and Instagram. Get in touch with our editors at [email protected].
