Knut: We have no contract with TSC for Sh17.6b medical scheme

 

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has told the Senate that it does not have binding contractual dealings with the Teachers Service Commission, Minet Medical Scheme or Medical Administrators Kenya Limited (MARL), for the provision of insurance scheme for its members

Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu told  the Senate Health Committee that the National Treasury allocated TSC Sh316.7 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year out of which Sh17.6 billion was to cater for the Comprehensive Teacher Medical Insurance Scheme.

Oyuu explained that the National Treasury often delays the disbursement of funds to TSC for onward transmission to Minet and for the funds to be released to MARL to cater for the medical insurance scheme, which delays the processing of claims.

“Knut brings together and unites teachers in the teaching service and advocates for enhanced conditions and terms of service for teachers, having put a wide range of measures in place to effectively address teachers' concerns in the scheme,” Oyuu said.

The teacher's representative, who appeared before the committee chaired by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, was responding to a question by nominated senator Raphael Chimera regarding the delay in the processing of medical insurance claims for teachers by MARL.

Chimera asked Knut to provide details of the Medical Insurance Scheme for teachers managed by MARL, indicating the number of respective beneficiaries, and panels of medical and healthcare service providers.

Oyuu said the general objective of the Minet Teachers Medical Scheme is to provide quality medical and healthcare services to teachers employed by TSC and their dependents.

“Due to the delay in disbursing funds to service providers, some health facilities out rightly deny providing some services to teachers or subject them to endless frustration. This also complicates matters, leading to delay in the processing of medical insurance claims as Minet and MARL struggle to corroborate information,” he said.

The Knut SG noted that the total number of principal beneficiaries for the medical scheme is over 361,000, added to their eligible dependents, the number comes to 1,288,395, excluding intern teachers.

Oyuu said Minet is the lead consortium with whom the Commission signed the contract after due diligence and a comprehensive procurement process.

Thereafter, Minet subcontracted MARL as their medical scheme administrator.

“MARL manages the comprehensive medical cover and related benefits with the mandate of Minet, including contracting service providers in all 47 counties, provision of the medical management system, claims management and provides payments,” he said.