Teachers have put the Social Health Authority (SHA) on notice over continued failures in their medical scheme, saying they will not tolerate any more delays in accessing healthcare.
Frustrated by what they describe as unfulfilled promises and persistent service breakdowns, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has given the authority 30 days to resolve the problems or face action.
The ultimatum follows claims that SHA has not acted on commitments contained in two joint communiqués signed on March 10 and April 23, 2026, which were meant to address weaknesses in the teachers' medical scheme.
Kuppet Secretary-General Akello Misori said the union has already written to SHA and expects the authority to respond within the notice period.
“The 30 days are enough to study the operating environment and to look at the options we can take,” Misori said yesterday.
The latest warning comes only three months after SHA and Kuppet agreed on measures to improve healthcare services for teachers after widespread complaints over delays in treatment and gaps in service delivery.
However, the union says little has changed, with many teachers still struggling to access medical care.
Kuppet says lengthy pre-authorisation processes continue to delay essential diagnostic tests, while frequent system failures and limits imposed by some hospitals have made it difficult for teachers to receive treatment when they need it.
“Additionally, many teachers are being compelled to pay out-of-pocket for diagnostic tests and treatment that should be covered under the SHA benefit package,” Misori said.
The union also faulted SHA's digital system, saying it has failed to improve access to healthcare as intended. Instead of making admissions and claims processing easier, Kuppet says the platform has become another obstacle for teachers seeking treatment.
According to the union, the problems persist because SHA has yet to implement key commitments contained in the joint communiqués that were reached after consultations initiated by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
Kuppet also raised concern over the failure to publish the official benefits structure for teachers under the medical scheme. It says the lack of clear information has left members facing daily treatment limits of Sh1,200 or Sh2,000, which it considers irregular.
Misori also pointed to recurring technical failures within SHA's system, saying Mondays have become the worst days for teachers seeking medical services.
He said Monday “has effectively become a non-service day” in many hospitals across the country because of endless technical failures.
The union further accused SHA of failing to automate data sharing with accredited hospitals, a problem it says continues to see teachers turned away when seeking treatment.