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{
    "id": 1559099,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559099/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Runyenjes, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Muchangi Karemba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding the challenges faced by teachers and police officers in accessing medical services arising from their medical cover. The Government-funded medical insurance scheme for teachers and the police in Kenya, which relies on a capitation system, has faced significant challenges due to delayed payments to hospitals. This has resulted in hospitals either refusing to provide services to these groups or demanding out-of-pocket payments. The issue is claimed to stem from the Government's failure to release allocated funds, despite teachers and police officers being deducted their medical scheme contributions from their salaries. The contributions of teachers and police officers form the bedrock of society's stability and progress. To ensure that they fulfil their vital roles in education and public safety effectively, prioritising their physical and mental wellbeing is not just a moral imperative, but also a strategic necessity. It is regrettable that teachers and police officers, particularly those from Runyenjes Constituency and Embu County at large, have expressed serious grievances regarding their medical cover. These concerns highlight systemic issues that require urgent attention, as they affect not only teachers and police officers in Runyenjes and Embu County at large, but also thousands of others across the country. This crisis, marked by hospitals denying them services due to unpaid claims and stalled National Treasury contracts, exposes systemic failures endangering public servants and their dependents nationwide. Addressing these challenges is, therefore, critical to ensuring that these essential public servants receive the healthcare they deserve for them to continue serving our communities effectively. It is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health on the following challenges ― 1. Plans put in place by the Ministry to remit the medical capitation funds to hospitals and the timelines for the implementation. 2. Action being taken to ensure that teachers and police officers access unlimited medical services, considering that their contributions are deducted from their salaries consistently. 3. Efforts being made to address the challenges relating to medical insurance and the health service delivery for public servants, particularly police officers and teachers. I thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}