Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu has been forced to travel to Eldoret to calm down teachers who stormed Minet Kenya insurance offices, protesting changes in their medical cover.
The teachers claimed the insurer had stopped them from seeking healthcare services at Level 5 and some private hospitals.
Minet Kenya, which operates the comprehensive medical cover for teachers, withdrew services from the hospitals citing government policy requirements.
However, after lengthy meetings and consultations with officials from North Rift, Oyuu said the services were restored.
“We have agreed that all the hospitals which had been withdrawn will be brought back on board immediately and teachers are good to go,” he said.
An earlier directive by the insurance firm required teachers to get authorisation before seeking medical care at the hospitals.
The protest at Daima Towers offices was led by Knut Chepkoilel branch secretary Sammy Bor and Kuppet Uasin Gishu secretary Elijah Maiyo.
They were accompanied by union officials from Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia and Baringo branches.
“We are here to protest the removal of the hospitals from the cover. The company got this medical cover courtesy of TSC and they have to consult before making any changes,” Bor said.
He said some teachers had chronic illnesses, which cannot be handled at lower level hospitals.
Bor and Maiyo said many teachers were directly receiving care at some of the Level 5 facilities including Top Hill, Lifecare and St Luke’s hospitals.
“Minet now says teachers have to get referrals from lower hospitals before being handled at such hospitals,” he said.
Oyuu said they will not accept any tampering with the comprehensive medical cover. Minet Kenya general manager Edwin Kegode said they initially made changes to medical cover in line with the National Health policy framework which has categorised the hospitals.
“The framework designates the lower level hospitals to handle primary care as Level 5 hospitals handle referral cases,” he said.
Kegode said they had noted the complaints from the union officials and agreed to resolve them He said teachers who were already receiving care at the Level 5 hospitals will not be downgraded to lower facilities.
“It's only the new cases that will have to start at lower level hospitals and get referrals where necessary,” Kegode said.
He said some cases such as oncology and dialysis will be retained and the insurance will continually engage the unions for smooth services.
“We care about the welfare of our clients who are teachers in this case and we assure them of continued smooth services,” Kegode said.
Bor said some teachers living with disability have already been turned away from Level 5 hospitals.
“Healthcare is about life and we
will not watch as our members get
exposed to such challenges,” he said.
