TSC extends medical scheme for teachers

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has extended by three months a medical scheme for more than 230,000 teachers.

TSC extended the contract for AON, which expired on June 30, to allow it conduct a fresh procurement process for a new provider.

It has not been smooth sailing for the provider, with a section of the teachers accusing it of poor services.

Last week, Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials from Kisii and Nyamira counties urged TSC not to renew the AON contract, citing dissatisfaction with services.

Kisii South Knut Executive Secretary Geoffrey Mogire led union officials in saying AON "has failed to stick to the terms of the contract".

They said teachers were turned away while seeking health services at their preferred health facilities over alleged non-remittance of funds by AON.

AON won the bid for Sh5.3 billion one-year medical cover last July.

And as a new contract is sought, it emerged that AON spent Sh1.5 billion more than the contract sum.

Well-placed sources at the TSC yesterday told The Standard that the three months extension is within the law and noted that by end of September, a new provider shall have been identified.

"Yes, the contract was extended from July 1 so that there is ample time to handle the procurement process. Procurement laws are strict and prohibitive and that is why it may be difficult to vary the current contract," said the senior TSC official.

AON deputy Managing Director Sammy Muthui yesterday said he received the extension letter last Thursday. This means that all teachers registered under the scheme and their dependants have up to the end of September to enjoy free out-patient services and in-patient cover of between Sh300,000 to Sh1 million annually.

Latest data indicates that so far, a total of 657,457 members have benefitted from the scheme since its inception last year. Of these, 233,910 are teachers and 423,457 dependants.

Both Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion and Akelo Misori of Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) yesterday said the medical cover was fairly administered.

Misori said ignorance led some teachers to high-cost facilities, not knowing those were referral hospitals.

And Sossion said teachers are now healthier than they were one year ago.

"There have been issues with administration of the scheme at the facilities level and we hope the same will be addressed. The benefits to teachers far outweigh the complaints," said Sossion.

An internal assessment report says the scheme was successful despite the level of funding.