There must be a very big misunderstanding between the Teachers’ Service Commission, TSC, and her employees. As teachers are sincerely opposing the incompetency of AON MINET, the employer has sworn to die with the multibillion medical scheme, insisting that it is the best of its kind in this region. In her defense, all those allegations that teachers experience humiliation at AON MINET clinics have no base and such claims are all lies.

Read also: Minet Is Better Than Schemes Of Other Civil Servants: Sossion Tells Nyamunga

TSC was responding to a statement petitioned by Senator Rose Nyamunga that Kenyan teachers are being humiliated under AON MINET medical cover.

Nancy Macharia stressed that AON MINET scheme does not have a daily limit on the outpatient services. “The only capping for the outpatient component is the member’s annual allocation,” said Macharia before the Senate Committee on Education.

In her own analysis, the teacher’s medical cover is better than those which are relied upon by most Kenyan and regional public workers. The scheme has a multiple range of services and the annual allocations for every principal member can cover up to over 5 dependants.

“AON MINET is one of the most comprehensive medical schemes,” she stressed to the senate committee on education.

TSC informed the committee that the scheme has more than 500 accredited facilities offering a wide scope of services not limited to; inpatient services, outpatient services, dental services, optical services, maternity services, medical emergency evacuation and specialized referrals locally and internationally, group excess of loss cover, group life and last expense cover. Macharia applauded the scheme, saying that no teacher has ever complained about claims of humiliation. In her statement, AON MINET covers well over 1.036 million lives yet teachers are only 332,000. “Why are the other beneficiaries not complaining?” she questioned

“Based on the feedback at consultative forums on the administration of the scheme and monthly meetings, additional 32 medical service providers ranging from private facilities, faith-based institutions as well as some country referral hospitals were added to the list of medical providers,” said Macharia. In her additional statement, TSC has ensured AON MINET hospitals are accredited by NHIF.

Teachers have yet another reason to be inspired as Rose Nyamunga, a nominated senator, has sworn not rest until teachers are freed from AON MINET or given improved health care by the latter. The Ruto allied senator empathized with teachers as she highlighted the frustrations teachers have experienced under the bogus health insurance provider. ‘Your employees are suffering seriously and you are seated watching. Rise from your comfort and give hope to the teachers,’ said rose Nyamunga to the Teachers Service Commission, TSC.

Senate Probe

Nyamunga’s plea forced the senate to open an investigation process, accusing AON MINET of acutely frustrating teachers in the name of offering health services.

The teachers service commission remitted ksh. 9B to AON MINET in the year 2020 and Ksh.12B this year, yet teachers receive low value health care under the service providers.

Read also: These Are Our Plight Under TSC’s AON MINET: Teachers Tell Nyamunga

Introduction of AON MINET as a health care service provider to teachers resulted to loss of medical allowance from teachers’ pay slips. The lowest paid teacher had a medical allowance of ksh. 3870 per month, an amount which unexpectedly shocked the entire senate.

Those set for interrogation by the Senate committee on Education include AON Minet management, TSC, and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).Nyamunga questioned why teachers receive poor health services under AON MINET, that are not commensurate to the medical allowance that they lost. “How can teachers undergo double deductions on their pay slips both for National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and AON MINET yet there are no commensurate services?” Nyamunga questions AON management and TSC.

‘There is very low capitation on outpatient services with some teachers capped at as low as Sh900, which is inclusive of doctors’ consultations, tests and drugs. The teachers of this country are a frustrated lot and they feel their lives are potentially endangered by the poor services being offered under the AON MINET Kenya medical insurance cover,” says Nyamunga.

The Senate committee on education summoned KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion to appear before it on 4^th November to respond to the allegations of Ms Nyamunga over gross mistreatment of teachers in the hands of AON MINET

Nyamunga insists that these concerns of below standard services by AON MINET are very serious and that TSC must fulfill the teachers’ need for quality healthcare.

“The decision to introduce a medical cover for teachers was very good because it was a step in the right direction. However, there appears to be glaring gaps and challenges that must be addressed by the employer immediately,” insists the furious Nyamunga.

Read also: Five Major Reasons Why Teachers Dislike Nancy Macharia

She quotes Article 43 (1) (a) of the Constitution which states,” Every person has a right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to healthcare services.”

Medical Allowance Back To Pay slips

If Nyamunga wins in her quest, then teachers will have medical allowance back to their pay slips, or TSC will contract a more competent health care provider to serve teachers.