Page 39 - EdSource Issue No02

The Teacher 39

medical scheme was the ease
of access. Any teacher or their
dependents could seek services
from any facility anywhere in the
country so long it was on the panel.
Given the geographical spread of
teachers in all parts of the country,
this was a big boom for the teaching
fraternity.

In fact, it reached a point where
teaching in a Public school was
the much sought for job ; this was A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell
largely because teachers enjoyed
lavish healthcare benefits that where his influence stops.
appeared more valuable than any
other reward a Public servant could
get from the Government.

As we reflect on the performance of Henry Brookes Adam
Aon-Minet since October 2015 when

the Scheme was launched, we call Specifically, teachers’ complaints
on the TSC to audit the scheme’s centre at very low capitation on
impact on teachers’ health access. Outpatient services, with some
Quality, accessible and affordable capped at as low as Shs 900, inclusive
healthcare is a right to every Kenyan of doctor’s consultations, tests and
– but this is not the case with most drugs. There are restrictions on the
teachers today. hospitals teachers are allowed to
visit for treatment, some of which
Teachers have taken an issue with are ill-equipped and lack adequately
healthcare providers, saying the trained personnel.
Scheme is killing their moral as some
of the contracted hospitals, health There are delays in approvals of
centres and clinics have literally payments, which sometimes take
turned away teachers insured by up to one month, hence putting the
Aon-Minet. life of a teacher at risk. Significantly
too is the fact that presently many
It is even baffling when the insurance teachers are facing challenges
administrator contracts hospitals lodging claims with Aon-Minet.
and other medical facilities that There is limited access to health
clearly lack the threshold to offer facilities due to rigid operating
medical services because of lack hours. Worse still, there are limited
of qualified personnel, drugs and dental services, where only tooth
medical equipment. extraction is cared for by Aon-Minet.
On dental services, the Scheme
Teachers are not comfortable with administrator doesn’t cater for
some of the health facilities such as crucial services such as cleaning,
BLISS which operate intermittently refilling, root canalling and tooth
between 8 am and 5pm – offering replacement. It is prudent that this
substandard services such as poor issue is relooked to allow teachers
tests and diagnosis. These facilities to enjoy full healthcare benefits and
besides offering poor services, do ensure their well being is catered
not provide round-the-clock medical for.
services, thus teachers who fall
ill at night fail to receive medical Dorothy Muthoni is the National
attention. Chair, KEWOTA

EdSource Quarterly | Oct-Dec l 2021