Teachers Sh6 billion medical cover up for grabs

A Sh6 billion contract to provide medical cover for 318,000 teachers is up for grabs.

The current deal with an insurance brokerage firm expires end of next month.

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is now calling for fresh bids from interested insurance firms, as the long open tendering process begins.

TSC contracted AON Minet in July 1, 2015 to manage the multi-billion shilling medical scheme. The contract has been renewed annually since then.

TSC had at first sought to have the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) run the teacher's scheme.

“I request the fund to prepare and present proposals, including your indicative quote, to the Commission on how it may provide the service to teachers engaged in public service, their spouses and children,” TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia had written to NHIF in a letter dated June 18.

The teacher's employer now seems to have backpedaled on the proposal, and opted to re-advertise.

The teachers' medical scheme covers inpatient medical care, outpatient services, dental and optical medical care.

Data from the TSC shows that some 1,006,673 beneficiaries have been registered under the scheme, with 313,333 being teachers, 178, 272 being their spouses and 515,068 being their children.