The Social Health Authority (SHA) has clarified its policy on the required documents needed to access In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) under the scheme after a teacher was denied treatment.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Wednesday, June 17, SHA confirmed that a marriage certificate is not required for approval of IVF services under its cover, correcting communication that had indicated otherwise.

“SHA wishes to clarify that a marriage certificate is not a requirement for accessing IVF services,” the statement read.

The clarification follows concerns raised after a teacher was reportedly denied IVF treatment after failing to provide proof of marital status.

📌 What You Need to Know

“I went to the hospital and learnt that one of the conditions is that you have to show a marriage certificate,” the teacher said.

When the teacher’s doctor applied for pre-authorisation, SHA responded with a denial message detailing the requirements for approval, including a marriage certificate or an affidavit.

This sparked outcry as the requirement was not mentioned when fertility treatments had been included in a negotiated cover agreement between SHA and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).

Union officials accused SHA of denying members access to treatment based on conditions that were not part of the negotiated medical cover.

“There is no condition that we have signed with SHA that you must have a marriage certificate or proof of marriage. I think SHA is running away from shouldering the burden of treatment in that regard,” said Moses Nthurima, KUPPET Deputy Secretary General.

SHA’s statement explained that the inclusion of that requirement was a mistake and said the request should be resubmitted.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke