Union officials issue strike notice over medical plan

Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa. [File, Standard]

Public sector unions have issued a 14-day industrial action notice if the Ministry of Health does not address issues stemming from the recent migration from the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new Social Health Authority (SHA).

Speaking in Nairobi yesterday, the unions officials claimed the new health scheme, which was rolled out on Tuesday last week, has left out civil servants without a proper healthcare cover.

The officials also demanded an immediate assurance of continuity of the comprehensive healthcare cover that public servants previously enjoyed under NHIF.

They also want a full engagement with unions in reviewing SHA's shortcomings and 100 per cent transition of workers previously employed by NHIF with their previous full benefits.

The Kenya Medical Practitioner's, Pharmacists and Dentist Union Secretary-General Davji Atellah said it was not democratic to transition Kenyans from NHIF, despite numerous concerns and questions that citizens raised.

This, according to the unions, has caused challenges to the public sector workers, who were enjoying their medical services under NHIF.

"Civil servants have for years, enjoyed comprehensive health cover negotiated between the government and the worker's union under National Hospital Insurance Fund.

''The cover was provided in exchange for surrender of medical allowances by public servants, ensuring that they and their families had access to adequate healthcare," stated Atellah.

He said public servants have had to dig deep into their pockets to pay for medical services that they were previously being catered under National Hospital Insurance Fund.