Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1522688,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1522688/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 132,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Emuhaya, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Omboko Milemba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning regarding delay in disbursement of funds for the Teacher's Medical Scheme. Prior to 2015, teachers received a medical allowance enabling them to access healthcare services through private insurance or out-of-pocket payments. In 2015, the Government introduced a medical scheme that is administered by a consortium of insurance companies led by Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers and debited to the National Treasury. Furthermore, teachers contribute 2.7 per cent of their salary towards the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Unfortunately, since September 2024, there has been a cessation of medical capitation funds from the National Treasury. This has led to hospitals withdrawing services or demanding out-of-pocket payments from teachers due to non-payment. Consequently, over 300,000 teachers nationwide and their dependants are being denied medical services. They experiencing poor treatment by medical providers despite the regular deductions from their salaries intended for the medical scheme. Failure by the Government to remit these funds not only violates the rights of the teachers to healthcare as enshrined under Article 43(1) of the Constitution, but also undermines their dignity and productivity. It is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on the following: 1. Reasons for the delay in disbursement of funds to the Teachers' Medical Scheme, considering the consistent monthly deductions from the teachers' salaries. 2. The status of disbursement of the Ksh11 billion owed to hospitals by the National Treasury, the total amount of funds remitted towards the medical scheme in the Financial Year 2024/2025, and the outstanding balance. 3. Measures the Ministry has put in place to ensure prompt and regular disbursement of funds to hospitals under the Teachers' Medical Scheme to prevent similar delays in future. Hon. Speaker, three things happened. Firstly, teachers surrendered their medical allowance, which was a percentage of their monthly earnings. Secondly, teachers are the heavy lifters of the SHIF and the Social Health Authority (SHA), contributing 2.7 per cent of their salary to their medical cover. Thirdly, the teachers had surrendered their medical allowance to get a private medical scheme and they are now remitting 2.7 per cent of their salary to the medical scheme, but they are currently not covered. We do not want teachers to join the strike by the national hospitals. Hon. Speaker, I request that this matter be expedited so that teachers do not get into that bracket."
}