COTU SG Atwoli Issues New Directive To All Civil Servants
COTU SG Atwoli Issues New Directive To All Civil Servants, urging them to enroll for the new health scheme, Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
According to Atwoli, SHIF is more inclusive and it bridges most gaps in the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
In a statement, Atwoli highlighted that SHIF is designed to enhance financial protection of workers by improving packages including maternal and child clinics
He stated,”SHIF will make healthcare more equitable. It will ensure that low-income earners contribute less and, in many cases, access healthcare for free, thus reducing inequalities in healthcare access and cost. Reducing out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare is a crucial part of this protection, and the SHA stands as a key instrument in this endeavor,”
Atwoli further added the programme will take care of the low-income earners.
“SHIF premiums are notably lower for low-cadre workers compared to those charged by NHIF. This adjustment directly benefits the majority of our members who are paid between sh15,000 to sh35,000,”
“We will continue to engage with the public and the relevant authorities to make improvements where necessary. The contradiction and misinformation about SHA, and what it will offer, are not a huge concern to the Kenyan workers,”
Adding, “I wish to call upon all Kenyan workers to enroll to SHA so as to not only have access to the benefits, but also hold the Authority accountable in case services are not provided.”
Cotu’s plea comes a week after court allowed SHA to proceed with roll out of the medical scheme scheduled for October 1, pending full hearing of the case challenging SHIF.
“In these complex circumstances, we are inclined to grant a stay as the High Court decision is reviewed by this court, pending an authoritative ruling on the validity of the three statutes,” ruled the appellate court.
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