Private Hospitals To Halt Treatment For Teachers, Police Over Unpaid Government Bills

Teachers and police officers using government-backed insurance will be denied treatment at select hospitals starting Monday, February 24.

The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) announced that its member hospitals would suspend medical services for civil servants until outstanding bills are cleared.

RUPHA officials stated that the move was necessary due to unpaid claims dating back to the previous year. According to the association, the insurer responsible for covering teachers and police officers under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and other government agencies has failed to settle pending payments.

“We will stop providing medical services to police officers and teachers using government insurance from Monday,” said RUPHA Deputy Chairperson Rev. Joseph Kariuki.

The association also warned that it might extend the suspension to patients under the Social Health Authority (SHA), citing continued financial strain on private hospitals. RUPHA maintains that halting services is a last resort to push the government to resolve funding issues within SHA.

“No services will be provided to teachers, police, and SHA patients from Monday unless the government addresses our concerns,” Kariuki added.

RUPHA is demanding the government clear all outstanding bills accumulated under the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) dating back to 2017. As of December last year, private hospitals were owed approximately Ksh29 billion. Despite government assurances that the debt would be settled, RUPHA insists services will not resume without a clear payment plan.

The prolonged delays have forced hospitals into financial distress, with some facilities facing auctioning, staff layoffs, and specialists refusing to work due to non-payment.

“Doctors are now saying they will not treat patients unless they pay in cash. Why is it that the Treasury does not value the lives of Kenyans?” Kariuki questioned.

RUPHA is also calling for a review of the Global Budget Capitation model used for outpatient services. Under the current system, the government allocates Ksh900 per patient annually, translating to roughly Ksh75 per person per month. The association argues that this amount is too low to sustain quality healthcare services.

SHA, which replaced NHIF in October last year, has faced operational challenges, with the government acknowledging concerns and promising reforms.