Teachers across the country are increasingly voicing concern over difficulties accessing medical services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) system, despite reforms intended to enhance universal healthcare and improve service efficiency.
A major issue cited by educators is delayed approval of medical services. Many teachers report longer waiting times before receiving authorization for treatment, particularly for specialized care.
This has raised anxiety among those who rely on prompt medical attention due to the physically and mentally demanding nature of their profession.
Access to hospitals has also emerged as a significant challenge. Some healthcare facilities that previously served teachers without difficulty have reportedly scaled back or adjusted their participation in the new system.
As a result, affected teachers are being forced to travel longer distances to access approved facilities, increasing both financial strain and inconvenience.
Additionally, teachers have raised concerns about inadequate communication regarding the new framework. Many say they lack clear information on benefit coverage, referral procedures, and approved hospital listings. This information gap has often led to confusion during treatment and unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.
Teacher unions and representatives continue to push for structured engagement with health authorities to address these issues.
They are calling for clearer policies, smoother service delivery, and safeguards to ensure educators’ welfare is not compromised.
Government agencies, however, insist that the healthcare reforms are still undergoing refinement and that challenges are expected during the transition period.
Officials say they are reviewing feedback from stakeholders, including teachers, to enhance system efficiency and access.
For most teachers, the expectation is straightforward: a reliable and accessible healthcare system that delivers support when it is most needed.
Ongoing dialogue between health authorities, unions, and education stakeholders is expected to play a key role in resolving these concerns in the months ahead.
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Health