KUPPET Accuses SHA of Failing Teachers' Medical Cover, Demands Urgent Government Action
News Updated: 22 July 2026 16:20 EAT
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has accused the Social Health Authority (SHA) of failing to honour commitments under the teachers' medical scheme, saying educators across the country are being denied healthcare despite making regular contributions. The union is now calling on the government to urgently intervene and address what it describes as a worsening crisis in access to medical services.
Speaking on Wednesday, KUPPET officials said many teachers have been turned away from hospitals or forced to pay cash for treatment and medication that should be fully covered under the insurance scheme. The union said the situation has left thousands of teachers exposed to financial hardship while seeking medical care.
According to KUPPET, several hospitals have either suspended services to teachers or imposed additional charges because of delays in reimbursements and challenges in the implementation of the SHA programme. The union said the disruptions have affected access to both outpatient and inpatient services.
KUPPET argued that the transition to the Social Health Authority was expected to improve healthcare access for teachers but has instead resulted in reduced benefits and frequent denial of services. The union maintained that teachers continue to have deductions made from their salaries while receiving inadequate medical cover.
The union expressed concern that teachers living with chronic illnesses and those requiring specialised treatment have been among the hardest hit, with some reportedly postponing or foregoing treatment due to the high out-of-pocket costs.
KUPPET called on the Ministry of Health, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Social Health Authority to urgently resolve the challenges facing the scheme, clear outstanding obligations to healthcare providers and restore full access to services.
The union also urged the government to review the implementation of the teachers' medical insurance programme to ensure hospitals contracted under the scheme provide services without demanding additional payments from beneficiaries.
The concerns come amid broader complaints from healthcare providers over delayed claim settlements and operational challenges under the new Social Health Authority framework, which has affected service delivery in some health facilities.
KUPPET said the government must act without delay to safeguard teachers' welfare, warning that continued disruptions in healthcare access will negatively affect the well-being and productivity of educators across the country.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD