Kenya Prison staff advised to seek services at KNH after suspension of services by Nairobi West Hospital
Prison warders in job group A-K are the most affected as Nairobi West Hospital and Top Hill Hospital in Eldoret have announced the suspension of all medical services to the officers.
Kenya Prison Officers and staff of the Kenya Prison are the latest to be hit by medical paralysis in the healthcare system following a notice by Medical Administrators Kenya Limited (MAKL).
Prison warders in job groups A-K are the most affected as Nairobi West Hospital and Top Hill Hospital in Eldoret have announced the suspension of all medical services to the officers.
In a notice to the Prison heads dated February 7, 2024, Senior Assistant Commissioner General of Prisons Henry Kisingu advised the warders to seek services at the corporate section of the Kenyatta National Hospital and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for those in Eldoret.
“It has come to my attention that warders and staff of the Kenya Prison are being turned away by accredited hospitals who have suspended services following a notice from MAKL,” Kisingu stated.
“Officers in job groups A-K are the most affected and they are now advised to seek healthcare services in the nearby accredited facilities those being referred to Nairobi can seek the same at KNH corporate section while those in Eldoret can have access at the referral hospital,” he added.
The notice by Kisingu comes after a source previously indicated that various hospitals accredited to offer medical services to Kenya Prison officers, National Police Service, and teachers were turning them away due to unremitted funds for health insurance covers.
In a recent notice to hospitals, MAKL announced the suspension of services to hospitals due to unremitted finances by TSC and the NPS together with Kenya Prisons with the TSC boss Nancy Macharia saying they are yet to receive money from the national government.
Weeks ago, tutors union officials were calling for a permanent solution over their medical insurance to avoid being turned away over unremitted claims.
“The periodical non-payment of medical covers for teachers needs to stop. We want permanent solutions to end this. There should be constant remittance of money to TSC by the national government then TSC pays MINNET who then pay their contracted administrators,” KNUT Secretary General Collin Oyuu stated.
The SG revealed that as of last month, hospitals like AGC Tenwek in Kericho, Siloam, Raele in Uasin Gishu and Kisii referral Hospital turned away the teachers over the pending bills owed to the hospitals by MAKL; the administrator contracted by MINNET.
MAKL is the administrator contracted by MINNET a consortium of insurance companies responsible for medical services to NPS, Kenya Prison staff and officers, and teachers.
In 2015, medical insurance for teachers was halted after the government’s Medical allowances paid to teachers were when the government introduced the medical scheme that is administered by the consortium of insurance companies.
Contributions from teachers’ salaries were pooled together to fund the scheme, with teachers contributing up to Sh3, 000 monthly.
However, due to the delays in payments, the provision of services has remained inefficient.
