As the Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. Ezekiel Machogu released KCSE results on Monday, January 8, most schools countrywide resumed for the first term of the 2024 academic year.
Putting the KCSE results aside, I’m lost deep in thoughts, with numerous unanswered questions in my head as students resume their learning.
With the NHIF pulling out of the Edu-Afya programme, who will provide the medical cover for our students?
Last year, the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) announced that it would terminate all the contracts it had with the Ministry of Education.
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| NHIF building Photo| Courtesy Standard |
NHIF chief executive officer Elijah Wachira announced the same come the end of last year (2023); the national insurer would bring to an end the 4 year-old medical scheme.
“NHIF will terminate all contracts it had with the Ministry of Education by the end of the year,” he said while appearing before the National Assembly Petitions Committee.
This followed the enactment of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 which repealed the National Hospital Insurance Fund.
Will students in public secondary schools have a medical cover? How is the government intending to fill the gap left by NHIF?
NHIF was contracted by the Ministry of Education, to offer a unique comprehensive medical insurance cover for public secondary school students.
This medical scheme allowed students to get access to medical services using a unique identification system assigned to each student, the National Educational Management Information System (NEMIS), also known as UPI Number.
In that case, the government paid a premium of Sh1,350 per student in what was one of Uhuru’s administration Big Four Agenda – the provision of affordable health care.
The scheme targeted three million students who were in public secondary schools to fulfil the same.
And with the agreement coming to an end, Kenyans are eagerly waiting for the next course of action from the government with regards to their children’s medical cover.
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| A section of students in a hall Photo | Courtesy |
NHIF will terminate all contracts it had with the Ministry of Education by the end of the year.
Elijah Wachira stated late last year before the National Assembly Petitions Committee
With tough economic times being experienced recently, and there’s still more to come, students from humble backgrounds will feel the weight of this matter.
With some coming from families that strain to put food on the table, it will surely be difficult for them to afford medical services.
This is to inform you that Edu-Afya Medical Cover for students in public secondary schools which has been in existence since May 2018 will lapse on 31 December 2023. Treatment received or claims launched after the deadline shall not be processed for reimbursement.
A section of the letter from the NHIF to the healthcare facilities read
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