The Teachers Service Commission on Monday said all 337,000 government-employed teachers will get full medical cover under the Commission’s medical scheme AON Minet for coronavirus-related ailments.
The statement came as a relief to teachers as the health ministry declared funding of such medical bills under the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The Ministry of Health estimates published in July detailed the cost of managing asymptomatic COVID-19 case at Ksh21,300 every day in a public hospital.
The Ministry announced critical cases necessitating supplemental oxygen run at an average of Ksh51,000 per day while severe cases requiring ventilatory support cost Ksh71,000 a day.
Patrick Amoth, the public Health Director-General demonstrated that the major contributor to the high cost of COVID-19 treatment is the Personal Protective Equipment most of which are single-use.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) have criticized the Ministry of Health’s financing of critical protective gear terming interventions by the Mutahi Kagwe-led ministry as ineffectual.
The union announced a 21-day strike notice on Sunday quoting exposure of its members to occupational dangers while handling COVID-19 cases due to the lack of protective gear.
