TSC defends scheme as opposition mounts

What you need to know:

  • He maintained that the scheme will only proceed after thorough consultations with all stakeholders.
  • Mr Lengoiboni said from July 1, all teachers and their families will receive treatment in the identified health facilities as per the contract signed with AON Kenya.
  • He maintained that, TSC had actively engaged the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) on the possibilities of coming up with a comprehensive medical scheme for teachers.

The Teachers Service Commission has defended the Sh6 billion medical scheme that it will be rolling out for 288,060 teachers starting July 1, as a teachers’ union warned that it will move to court to challenge its implementation.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education teachers (KUPPET) termed the scheme inferior and its implementation sketchy and unacceptable to teachers.

“Members of Kuppet cannot forfeit their monthly medical allowance and at the same time pay the enhanced NHIF rates,” Kuppet secretary-general Akelo Misori said in Nairobi after attending a Kuppet Special National Governing Council (NGC) meeting.

He maintained that the scheme will only proceed after thorough consultations with all stakeholders.

COST-EFFECTIVE

However, in a statement, TSC Chief Executive Officer Gabriel Lengoiboni assured teachers that the commission had negotiated for a cost-effective scheme that will enable them and their families’ access quality medical care and high-level customer care.

Mr Lengoiboni said from July 1, all teachers and their families will receive treatment in the identified health facilities as per the contract signed with AON Kenya.

“Over and above medical treatment, the scheme by AON Kenya has Group Life and Last Expense benefits which will be paid to the teachers’ next-of-kin in case of death in service,” he said in the statement signed by head of communications Kihumba Kamotho.

He maintained that, TSC had actively engaged the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) on the possibilities of coming up with a comprehensive medical scheme for teachers.

“This did not materialise because the NHIF proposal did not meet the requirements for a cost-effective comprehensive cover,” said Mr Lengoiboni.

He added that any attempt to compare the Scheme negotiated by TSC with the proposed NHIF cover is premature and misleading.

This is because the NHIF has not given details of the benefits, doctors and medical facilities to provide the services under the increased NHIF rates, Mr Lengoiboni argued.