Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ordered immediate changes to the Social Health Authority (SHA) after teachers reported widespread treatment challenges and their union threatened a nationwide strike over failures in the new medical cover system.
Duale issued the changes on March 10 during a meeting with officials from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) at Afya House in Nairobi while reviewing the transition of teachers to the new scheme.
The Ministry of Health confirmed that 413,577 teachers have already been moved to the SHA medical scheme following the shift from the previous teachers’ medical cover.
To stabilise the rollout, Duale announced the appointment of 425 senior officers in all 47 counties within the SHA to support service delivery and respond to emerging challenges affecting teachers nationwide.
CS Duale further revealed that out of the newly appointed officers, 367 have already been deployed to counties to provide on-the-ground assistance to teachers experiencing difficulties while seeking treatment at health facilities.
Duale also announced that a dedicated 24-hour focal person has been assigned to handle urgent issues under the Mwalimu Medical Cover, while 47 County Joint Committees have been established to oversee implementation of the Teachers Medical Scheme at the county level.
As per this directive, the committees, chaired by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) County Directors and comprising SHA managers and union representatives, will meet quarterly to resolve operational issues and improve coordination.
CS Duale additionally announced the activation of a 24-hour toll-free hotline (0800 720 601) and short code (147) to support teachers experiencing emergencies or administrative challenges while accessing care. In addition, SHA, TSC, and KUPPET will roll out a nationwide education campaign to help teachers understand their benefits, access the patient portal, and navigate the scheme.
To make sure that the teacher’s concerns are never left unattended, CS Duale emphasised that workers’ interests remain safeguarded within the governance structure of SHA, noting that the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) should be represented on the board of SHA.
The directive follows mounting complaints from teachers who say hospitals are rejecting the new cover, leaving some patients stranded in facilities or forced to pay medical bills out of pocket during emergencies.
Union leaders raised concerns about frequent system breakdowns, delayed pre-authorisations, and hospitals declining the cover, issues they say have disrupted access to treatment for teachers across several counties.
The frustrations pushed the union to issue a seven-day strike notice on March 5, demanding urgent reforms, warning that continued failures in the health cover could trigger nationwide industrial action in the education sector. Teachers have also complained about reduced benefit limits under the new scheme, particularly for inpatient care and maternity services, compared to what was previously offered under the earlier medical arrangement.
Some teachers have reported being detained in hospitals over unpaid bills after facilities declined the SHA cover, forcing families to organise emergency fundraisers to settle medical costs.
Duale warned all hospitals contracted under the SHA Cover that denying treatment because of system downtime violates Kenyans’ constitutional right to healthcare and could lead to suspension or termination of contracts.
“Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale has warned health facilities against denying patients treatment under the pretext of system downtime, stating that such actions are unacceptable and violate Kenyans’ constitutional right to healthcare,” warned CS Duale.
