Lawmakers Advocate Termination of TSC Medical Cover: Urgent Call
Lawmakers Advocate Termination of TSC Medical Cover: Urgent Call. Mps are urging the termination of the Sh53 billion medical cover for teachers, citing dissatisfaction with the services provided by Minet Insurance Brokers. In a meeting with Minet officials, committee Chairperson Julius Melly insisted on a thorough review, expressing concerns about teachers being required to pay out of pocket due to the capped cover at Sh1,500. Consequently, MPs shared stories of teachers facing challenges, including denials of medical services and prolonged hospital stays due to delayed bill clearances.
Emphasizing the adverse impact on teachers, particularly the Sh100 co-payment per outpatient visit, MPs alleged that Minet benefits significantly, pocketing Sh300 million annually from approximately 3 million teacher visits. Advocates for termination, such as Peter Orero and Nabii Nabwera, shared personal experiences of suffering under the cover. Orero stressed the need for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to find an alternative provider, urging Minet to provide a list of service providers.
Anne Muratha raised questions about the availability of facilities listed by Minet in Kiambu County, expressing concern that teachers were unaware of them. In response, Timothy Toroitich demanded accountability for the Sh100 co-pay, highlighting the ongoing suffering of teachers.
Acknowledging delays in services, Minet CEO Sammy Muthui attributed them to stringent measures addressing fraud and incomplete disclosure by doctors. While admitting some delays, Muthui claimed they only affected five percent of teachers and stated the abolition of the Sh100 co-pay from July 1. Despite this, the committee members called for a comprehensive explanation and considered the possibility of terminating the contract to alleviate the challenges faced by teachers.