Teachers in Embu County, Kenya, have given the Teachers Service Commission a seven-day strike notice over failure to remit their medical cover deductions. This has resulted in disruption of healthcare services for the affected teachers and dependants, something that has left many frustrated and worried.
For the past nine months now, TSC has not remitted the monthly deductions towards teachers’ health insurance to AON Minet. Most teachers, who form the lion’s share, are denied medical services or get low-quality services in hospitals empanelled by the insurer. Others have been forced to dig deeper into their pockets, and fund-raises have been organized to offset their medical expenses, especially for patients who suffer serious or terminal ailments.
The complaints were raised by the secretary general of KUPPET Embu branch, Jacob Karura, in a press briefing in Embu town. He said that after raising numerous complaints to TSC, nothing had been done to resolve the issue. In his statement, he said, “If nothing happens in the coming seven days, we will have no choice but to ask our members to proceed on strike.”
Another KUPPET official, Eric Kimwere, indicated that this was an Embu County problem. He said teachers were frustrated, adding, “We are sick, we are tired and we are fed up with always going to the hospitals and being turned away.” He pointed out the complication in a pre-authorization process in hospitals, where approvals for treatment can go for up to 24 hours.
This lack of remittance has greatly contributed to barriers to health care services. Teachers are not only denied health care but treatment approvals are also delayed and this complicates their matters further. Kimwere said that in some instances, healthcare facilities only treat one member of the household which leaves other members who are covered without necessary health attention.