By Eddah Waithaka
Today on November 19, trade union organizations representing public sector workers in Nairobi released a press statement addressing critical concerns regarding the medical insurance scheme for civil servants. This announcement follows a joint strike notice which was issued by the unions on October 8, 2024. The notice demanded a Comprehensive Medical Insurance cover for all public servants, highlighting the urgency created by the lapse of the existing civil servants’ scheme, as mandated by the transition clause 5 of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The unions are therefore, calling for immediate action to ensure adequate healthcare coverage for public sector employees amidst ongoing negotiations and escalating tensions.
The state Department of Public Services and SHA responded by extending the civil
servants Comprehensive medical insurance cover until November 21st, 2024.
A team comprising of the Head of Public Service, Treasury, Ministry of Public Service, Office of Attorney General, Ministry of Health, and Public Sector Unions was formed to come up with a long-term solution to this problem bearing in mind that in 2011 all public servants
forfeited their medical allowances so that the government would pool the funds together and provide them with a comprehensive medical insurance cover above and beyond their NHIF contribution.
“This arrangement has given our members peace of mind as they tirelessly
serve the nation,” said Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union, Secretary General, Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah.
The negotiations culminated in the establishment of a public officers’ Medical Scheme Fund, for purposes of continuity of Comprehensive Medical insurance cover for public servants.
Further, the agreement was signed on 23rd October 2024 suspending the intended strike action and affirming that the comprehensive medical insurance cover shall continue beyond 21st of November 2024.
In addition, the benefits package for the comprehensive medical insurance scheme for public servants are set to remain the same as what has been there previously and it will be open for ALL public servants.
“That government will forthwith not procure private insurance for public servants. The medical insurance scheme shall be funded by the pooled medical allowances under the Public Servants medical insurance scheme fund to be managed by the SHA. To make it
clear, this is not money contributed by the other Kenyans to SHIF as been alluded by some quarter but the forfeited medical allowance by Public servants,” said Dr. Atellah.
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Additionally, an employer is set to ensure the provision, sufficient and of proper medicine for his employees during illness and if possible medical attendance during serious illness.
To actualize the establishment of this fund the joint team made up of government and
public sector unions came up with draft regulations that have been released by Treasury for public participation.
“We therefore implore all over 6 million public servants and their dependents’ to interact with the regulations and send their feedback to their respective
unions for onward transmission as their respective Unions’ stand,” read the statement.
