The government has extended the medical cover for all civil servants until November 21, 2024, quelling fears of a potential disruption in healthcare services.
The announcement comes as a relief to hundreds of thousands of civil servants and their dependents who were facing uncertainty following the lapse of the previous contract on September 30, 2024.
The extension aims to ensure a smooth transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the new Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). The SHIF is set to take over the administration of the civil servants' medical insurance scheme, marking a significant shift in the provision of healthcare for government employees.
Principal Secretary for Public Service, Amos Gathecha, confirmed the extension, stating that the government, in consultation with the Social Health Authority (SHA), had agreed to continue the existing medical cover. This decision was reached to allow ample time for a seamless handover to the new SHIF system without causing any inconvenience or interruption in service delivery to beneficiaries.
The extension will be particularly welcome to civil servants with critical illnesses requiring frequent treatments such as dialysis, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. These individuals were among the most vulnerable during the transition period, facing potential disruptions to their vital medical care.
The previous contract, administered by NHIF, expired on June 30, 2024, paving the way for the implementation of SHIF from July 1, 2024. However, the procurement process for the new scheme under SHIF necessitated an extension to avoid a gap in coverage.
Gathecha assured civil servants that they would continue to enjoy comprehensive medical insurance services for the duration of the extension. This comprehensive coverage encompasses all medical services, including specialised treatments like radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and dialysis, ensuring that civil servants have access to the full spectrum of healthcare services.
The scheme covers all national government employees working in various ministries and state departments, officers on secondment to county governments, and staff of the National Youth Service. This broad coverage reflects the government's commitment to providing for the well-being of its workforce across different sectors.
The Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS), a body representing public workers, welcomed the extension but urged the government to expedite the procurement process for the 2024-2025 financial year to avoid future uncertainties. The UKCS emphasised the importance of maintaining or improving the current benefits package in the new contract, advocating for the best possible healthcare provisions for civil servants.
The transition to SHIF and the associated procurement processes have caused some confusion, particularly regarding the types of hospitals civil servants can access and the services covered.
Under the previous NHIF scheme, members with enhanced packages had the flexibility to choose between comprehensive hospitals offering all-inclusive services or non-comprehensive hospitals operating on a fixed-fee-for-service basis.
