It has now emerged that Minet Kenya, an insurance underwriter handling the Sh53 billion teachers medical cover linked to poor-quality medical services, corruption and fraud as teachers continue to suffer.
This evils has forced the Mps to summon Minet Kenya officials so that to get to the bottom of the matter.
The meeting comes as the tendering for the Sh8.7 billion medical cover for National Police Service and the Kenya Prisons Service closes on Monday at 10am.
Minet Insurance Brokers Kenya Limited Managing Director Sammy Muthui, will appear before the Departmental Committee on Education on Monday morning, to respond to allegation made against his firm.
Muthui will explain the role of Bliss Healthcare Services in the insurance arrangement for medical cover for teachers.
The letter by Clerk of the National Assembly Jeremiah Ndombi says Muthui is expected to explain to the committee the terms and conditions of the contract between Minet and TSC.
“The attention of the committee has been drawn to numerous complaints raised by teachers, regarding the medical insurance cover offered to them by TSC, through Minet Insurance Brokers Kenya Limited. The committee is inquiring into the matter and has resolved to meet you,” the letter said.
Muthui is also expected to respond to claims of delayed approvals for advanced treatment, or to have medical attention in other hospitals.
He is further expected to appraise members why teachers are asked to pay Sh100 by Bliss Heathcare Services.
He will also give an explanation as to why teachers are being subjected to Bliss Healthcare Services providers before being referred to established hospitals.
MPs appear to be curious about the dominance of companies associated with Bliss in the medical insurance sector and public service-related tenders.
“You are required to provide information on the following… the role of the Bliss Healthcare Ltd in the teacher medical cover and the identity of third parties involved in the medical cover for teachers,” the letter by Ndombi read in part.
These companies are said to be angling for the multi-billion shilling medical tender for the National Police Service and prisons officers.
Concerns were raised after NPS and KPS ended their comprehensive medical coverage with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for being too costly.
NHIF had made a bid for the renewal of the contract for 2023 stating a figure of Sh9.3 billion
On Monday, MPs will interrogate the quality of medical services offered to teachers by Bliss, that has been running the teachers medical cover since 2013.
On February 14, 2023, TSC defended a Sh53 billion medical insurance tender award to Minet amid uproar by some education stakeholders.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia told MPs on Tuesday that the tendering process was tamperproof. She said Attorney General Justin Muturi cleared the same.
This is despite suits lodged in court to halt the award following accusations that the tender was skewed to favour Minet.
The insurance firm was awarded the medical scheme tender on December 1, 2022.
It offers a comprehensive medical insurance cover for over 341,837 public school teachers for a three-year period. Minet was awarded a similar tender in 2015.
In June, teachers asked the Employment Labour Relations Court to compel Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers Limited to ensure the main service provider offers quality services to match Sh51.4 billion allocated to it.
Of the Sh53 billion signed between Minet and TSC, Sh51.4 billion was allocated to the master capitator Bliss Healthcare Services.
The petitioners named TSC and Minet as the respondents
As per the contract, Bliss allocated Sh32 billion for outpatient, Sh13.6 billion for in-patient, Sh2.07 billion for maternity, Sh1.3 billion for dental, Sh2.2 million for optical and evacuation services Sh179 million.
