Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has directed immediate reforms at the Social Health Authority (SHA) following widespread complaints from teachers and threats of a nationwide strike by their union, KUPPET, over failures in the new medical cover system.
The directive came during a meeting on March 10 at Afya House, Nairobi, where CS Duale reviewed the transition of teachers to the new SHA medical scheme.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that 413,577 teachers have already been migrated to the SHA cover from the previous medical scheme.
Key Measures Announced
Appointment of Officers:
425 senior SHA officers appointed across all 47 counties to support service delivery.
367 officers have already been deployed to provide on-the-ground assistance for teachers experiencing challenges.
24-Hour Support:
A dedicated focal person has been assigned to handle urgent issues under the Mwalimu Medical Cover.
47 County Joint Committees established to oversee scheme implementation, chaired by TSC County Directors with SHA managers and union representatives.
Committees will meet quarterly to address operational challenges.
Hotlines & Education:
24-hour toll-free hotline: 0800 720 601
Short code: 147
Nationwide education campaign to guide teachers on using the patient portal, understanding benefits, and navigating the scheme.
Safeguarding Workers’ Interests:
CS Duale emphasized that COTU representation on the SHA board will ensure teachers’ concerns are integrated into governance.
Background
Teachers have raised concerns about:
Hospitals rejecting the new SHA cover, forcing out-of-pocket payments.
System breakdowns and delayed pre-authorisations.
Reduced benefits compared to the previous scheme, especially for inpatient care and maternity services.
Some teachers even being detained in hospitals over unpaid bills during emergencies.
The union had issued a seven-day strike notice on March 5, 2026, demanding urgent reforms.
CS Duale warned that any hospital denying treatment due to system downtime violates constitutional rights and may face suspension or termination of contracts.
“Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale has warned health facilities against denying patients treatment under the pretext of system downtime, stating that such actions are unacceptable and violate Kenyans’ constitutional right to healthcare,” CS Duale said.
The reforms aim to stabilize service delivery, prevent industrial action, and ensure teachers access uninterrupted healthcare under the new SHA medical scheme.
Tags
News