Kuppet demands release of medical funds as teachers face healthcare crisis
KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima expressed concern, stating that teachers are facing increased barriers to receiving treatment.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has called for the immediate release of over Sh11 billion in medical capitation funds, citing a significant debt owed to hospitals.
The union claims that many healthcare providers have either withdrawn services or are turning teachers away due to outstanding bills, leaving educators unable to access necessary medical care.
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KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima expressed concern, stating that teachers are facing increased barriers to receiving treatment.
“There is a threat because whenever teachers now attend the hospitals, there are many reasons from the service providers. Sometimes they delay them, and other hospitals have already written that they are not serving teachers,” he said on Thursday.
“Teachers’ health is paramount, and denying them access to medical care is a violation of their right to healthcare, which undermines their human dignity.”
He highlighted that a teacher’s health is also a major determinant of their productivity
KUPPET National Secretary Edward Obwocha highlighted the growing crisis, particularly in hospitals where the quality of service is subpar.
“Most of the hospitals are very poor in terms of services, but those which are fairly well-known are now becoming overcrowded, leaving teachers with limited options. They are now being forced to go to dispensaries and smaller hospitals,” he said.
“We are asking the government to seriously consider the plight of teachers and stop the conversion of those hospitals into facilities that do not meet the necessary standards for care.”
The ongoing healthcare crisis has prompted protests by teachers, who have voiced their frustration over the lack of access to medical services at their preferred hospitals.
The protests are fueled by new restrictions from their insurance provider, Minet, which has significantly reduced the number of healthcare facilities available to teachers in the region.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and KUPPET have called on Minet and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to reinstate services at hospitals such as Reale Hospital, Life Care Hospital, and Top Hill Hospital in Eldoret.
The union representatives expressed their concerns, stating that the withdrawal of services has placed teachers in a difficult and unfair situation.
In response, Medical Administrators Kenya Limited (MAKL), which manages the teachers’ medical scheme, announced the introduction of 17 newly designated referral hospitals.
The decision, made in collaboration with the TSC, aims to streamline the healthcare system and improve access to specialised care. MAKL assured that teachers would still have access to treatment at primary healthcare facilities.
Despite the introduction of referral hospitals, teachers continue to express dissatisfaction with the changes, citing the inconvenience and limited options now available to them for medical treatment.
Kuppet also criticised the Ministry of Education for disbursing less than the expected 50 per cent of the capitation to secondary schools saying it is not enough to cater for students' needs.
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