(Nairobi) – The Kenyan government, through the State Department for Public Service, has announced plans to establish a new health fund to enhance healthcare benefits for civil servants and other public officers. This initiative, titled the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, seeks to provide additional medical benefits and reinforce the welfare of government employees.
The Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund is expected to work alongside the existing Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which operates under the Social Health Insurance Act. The new scheme will be funded through a structured recovery of medical benefits from the contractual remunerations of public officers. This design aims to create a sustainable funding model that supports the health needs of Kenya’s public workforce.
Under this new structure, the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund will provide complementary coverage that adds to the benefits already available through the SHIF. However, members and their eligible dependents will need to first exhaust their SHIF coverage limits before accessing additional benefits from the Public Officers Medical Scheme. This approach is intended to encourage efficient use of healthcare resources while ensuring expanded support.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fund Name | Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund |
| Complementary Scheme | Works alongside the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) |
| Funding Model | Funded through recovery from public officers’ remunerations |
| Eligibility | Civil servants and public officers |
| Access to Coverage | SHIF benefits must be exhausted before accessing Public Officers Medical Scheme benefits |
The proposed scheme will cover a broad range of public sector employees, including civil servants and other categories of public officers, thereby extending its impact across multiple sectors. By offering expanded health coverage, the government aims to improve access to medical services and boost the welfare of public employees.
An inter-agency team, including representatives from the Executive Office of the President, the Office of the Chief of Staff, the Ministry of Health, the National Treasury, the Office of the Attorney General, and civil service unions, has been involved in drafting the Public Finance Management (Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund) Regulations, 2024. Following the completion of this draft, the proposed regulations are now open for public consultation, inviting feedback from stakeholders and the general public.