Public sector unions are urging the government to resolve issues affecting civil servants’ medical cover under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
In a joint statement on Friday, Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah and Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) Secretary General Tom Odege stated that thousands of workers and their dependents are struggling to access comprehensive healthcare due to ongoing challenges.
The union leaders warned that if the government fails to act, they will proceed with planned mass demonstrations on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
“We expect swift and decisive action to resolve these urgent issues. Our members must not suffer due to administrative failures. This is a government-to-government issue that needs immediate resolution,” the statement read.
Exchanged allowances for medical cover
Dr. Atellah and Mr. Odege explained that civil servants surrendered their medical allowances in 2013 in exchange for a stable healthcare plan under SHA, ensuring continuous access to medical services. However, persistent inefficiencies have disrupted this system, making urgent intervention necessary.
They further pointed out that the government deducts SHIF and medical allowances from civil servants’ salaries but often fails to remit the funds to SHA.
This failure causes delays in medical services, as SHA automatically halts coverage if payments are not made by the 9th of each month.
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The union leaders vowed to continue fighting for civil servants’ right to quality healthcare.
“We will not sit back while our right to medical care is compromised. Civil servants have faithfully made their contributions—it is the government’s duty to fulfill its obligation without fail,” the statement added.
With many civil servants currently unable to access medical cover, the March 18 demonstrations remain on schedule unless the government takes immediate action.
