Kuppet: Put medical cover on hold

NAIROBI: A teachers' union has threatened to move to court to stop implementation of the teachers Sh5.9 billion medical scheme to allow its members make a decision on the two sets of health covers presented to them.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) National Governing Council held a meeting Thursday and resolved that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) medical cover be suspended immediately.

The union also demanded that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) convene an urgent stakeholders meeting to discuss the acceptable rates to be deducted to finance their medical scheme.

"Teachers payslips cannot withstand double deductions and we must renegotiate these health schemes," said Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori.

The union demanded "proper consultation" before further deductions are effected.

But Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) maintained that the TSC medical scheme should be rolled out immediately.

The Knut Steering Committee also met Thursday and resolved that the TSC medical scheme be implemented by July 1.

"The cover was extensively and exhaustively negotiated by both Knut and Kuppet and it must be implemented immediately," said Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion.

He said the TSC medical scheme was 'not negotiable' and accused Kuppet of mischief.

Sossion said Kuppet was fully represented at a meeting that resolved to scout for a comprehensive medical cover for all 288,000 teachers.

"It is Misori who made the proposal at the Consultative Committee on Terms and Conditions of Service that took place at TSC last year. Mudzo Nzili seconded him. How can he turn back on what he proposed to be adopted," said Sossion.

A statement from TSC yesterday said "both Knut and Kuppet approved the scheme structure and called for its expeditious implementation".

The statement signed by TSC Head of Communication Kihumba Kamotho said TSC had previously engaged NHIF on the possibilities of coming up with a comprehensive medical scheme for teachers in vain.

"This did not materialise because the NHIF proposal did not meet the requirements for a cost-effective comprehensive cover," he said.

But Misori said Kuppet will block the cover until further consultations are conducted.

TSC signed a contract with AON Minet to manage the teachers' medical scheme.

Sossion insisted the TSC cover was superior, and said it took into account the teachers earnings.

"We have a robust scheme and we now want to be exempted from NHIF. This was a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between an employer and workers and cannot be renegotiated. It is allowed under the Employment Act that workers with superior covers be exempted from other schemes," said Sossion.