The Social Health Authority (SHA) has clarified the documents required for teachers seeking In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) under its scheme after one teacher was denied treatment.
In a statement released by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Wednesday, June 17, SHA said a marriage certificate is not needed to approve IVF services covered by the scheme, correcting earlier communication that suggested otherwise.
“SHA confirms that a marriage certificate is not required to access IVF services,” the statement said.
The clarification came after concerns emerged that a teacher had reportedly been denied IVF treatment for failing to provide proof of marital status.
“I went to the hospital and was told that one of the conditions is to show a marriage certificate,” the teacher said.
After the teacher’s doctor applied for pre-authorisation, SHA responded with a rejection message listing the requirements for approval, including a marriage certificate or an affidavit.
The response triggered criticism because the condition had not been mentioned when fertility treatments were included in an agreement between SHA and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
Union officials accused SHA of denying members access to treatment by imposing conditions that were not part of the negotiated medical cover.
“There is no condition we signed with SHA requiring a marriage certificate or proof of marriage. I think SHA is avoiding responsibility for covering the treatment,” said Moses Nthurima, KUPPET Deputy Secretary General.
SHA acknowledged that including the requirement was an error and said the request should be resubmitted.
“The reference to a marriage certificate in the communication was made in error. The hospital is advised to resubmit the request through the appropriate verification and pre-authorisation process for review,” the statement said.
KUPPET has indicated that it intends to pursue the matter to ensure it is corrected, maintaining that access to fertility treatment should not depend on marital status.
“This is a teacher who is contributing, not a spouse. If I am the contributor, SHA should not need to know who my spouse is. We demand that they stop asking teachers for proof of marriage,” said Juliet Kimotho, KUPPET National Gender Secretary.