It must have been one of the BEST programmes when it emerged that from the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) funds, the government would offer learners a medical cover.
But doubts greeted the announcement over costing and whether it was necessary since some of the learners were already covered through family insurance policies, some dwarfing the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) basic cover.
Teachers equally wondered why it should be deducted from the FDSE capitation when the then Education Cabinet Secretary had hinted that it would be funded from savings made through direct supply of books to schools.
Nonetheless, it took off and some schools, including those with sanatoriums, organised with service providers for regular mobile clinics or resident clinical officers in schools.
At least there would be no lapses in discipline tied to drug and substance abuse, teenage pregnancies and disappearances as a result of learners walking long
distances to get treated.
Learning time would also not be lost.
But this celebration was cut short when the NHIF ordered that be learners be treated the accredited medical centres.
The order was one of the ways of stemming fictitious claims and probably because the sanatoriums are not accredited.
However, these fears are unfounded because the approved providers can have satellite clinics. Two, falsifying claims is not tied to location. Collusion can occur from anywhere.
And the Fund knows that the single biggest source of revenue for them is the education sector, making the learners priority customers.
Alternatively, if the Fund insists on learners going to hospitals outside schools, then each should be assigned a vehicle or ambulance for emergency.
Let the fund put checks and balances but not punish learners and schools seeking treatment.
