Ministry of Health Scraps Co-Payments for Teachers in Last-Minute Bid to Avert Nationwide Strike
The Ministry of Health has announced sweeping changes to teachers’ medical insurance under the Social Health Authority (SHA), abolishing co-payments in a move aimed at heading off a looming nationwide strike.
The decision follows a high-level meeting held on Wednesday, April 22, in Mombasa, bringing together key stakeholders including the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), SHA, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
Under the revised arrangement, teachers will no longer be required to make any out-of-pocket payments when accessing treatment at SHA-accredited health facilities. The government also confirmed an expansion of the medical scheme to cover a wider range of specialised services, alongside the accreditation of additional hospitals.
The breakthrough comes just days before unions had threatened to down tools over mounting frustrations with the scheme, particularly reports that some healthcare providers were demanding extra payments despite teachers being fully insured.
Speaking after the meeting, KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori indicated that further improvements are underway, particularly regarding outpatient services.
“There is going to be a revision upwards to where it was on the issue of the capitation, especially on the capping of outpatient cover,” Misori said.
SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi issued a stern warning to healthcare providers accused of flouting the scheme’s guidelines, stressing that co-charging teachers would not be tolerated.
“Facilities are not allowed to co-charge teachers. We have received reports that some providers are co-charging teachers. Any provider who has co-charged a teacher will face consequences,” she said.
Mwangangi added that SHA is currently in talks with healthcare providers to establish standardised tariffs, which are expected to streamline billing and eliminate inconsistencies in service charges.
The Ministry urged teachers to report any facilities that demand additional payments, signalling a stricter enforcement regime as the government seeks to restore confidence in the newly restructured health insurance scheme.
The agreement effectively halts the planned strike, offering temporary relief to the education sector while broader reforms to the healthcare system continue.
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