TSC includes IVF treatment in teachers’ medical cover under SHA scheme
By Emmanuel Rono, May 1, 2026The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the activation of In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) services under the Social Health Authority (SHA) Mwalimu Comprehensive Cover, marking a major expansion of reproductive health benefits for teachers and their spouses.
The new package includes access to In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment for eligible members and their lawfully registered spouses at accredited healthcare facilities.
According to the public announcement by the TSC on April 30, 2026, IVF services have now been formally activated under the SHA. They are currently available at Nairobi West Hospital, an accredited facility under the programme.
“The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is pleased to inform all eligible members that the Social Health Authority (SHA) has formally activated In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) services under the SHA Mwalimu Comprehensive Cover. This benefit is now accessible at The Nairobi West Hospital, a contracted and accredited healthcare provider under the scheme, with immediate effect,” reads a notice issued by the TSC.
The commission said this move is aimed at improving access to specialised reproductive healthcare while recognising infertility as a medical condition with far-reaching physical, emotional, and social effects.
Strict eligibility rules set
Access to the IVF services will, however, be limited to SHA-POMSF (Mwalimu Comprehensive Cover) beneficiaries who meet strict clinical and administrative conditions.
Eligible applicants must be principal members or their legally declared spouses. Couples are required to demonstrate documented infertility, defined as failure to conceive after at least 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse, or as clinically determined by a specialist.
The programme will also be limited to a maximum of two IVF attempts per lifetime per beneficiary.
In addition, the female partner must be aged 41 years or below at the start of treatment, while both primary and secondary infertility cases will be considered. However, in secondary infertility cases, couples must have no living child at the time of treatment.
All applications must be supported by a formal diagnosis and written recommendation from a registered medical specialist.
Frozen embryo transfers
The benefit also covers related procedures such as frozen embryo transfers, subject to the overall inpatient benefit limit under the Mwalimu Comprehensive Cover. In cases where treatment cycles are cancelled or unsuccessful, costs incurred up to that point are still charged within the allocated inpatient limit.
“If a cycle is cancelled or falls (for example, due to poor ovarian response, failure to retrieve viable oocytes, failure of fertilisation, absence of viable embryos, or failed implantation), costs incurred up to that point will be applied against your inpatient limit. Treatment can continue until either your inpatient benefit limit is used up or you reach the maximum of two (2) IVF attempts, whichever comes first,” the Commission stated.
The commission has further noted that all treatment must strictly follow national clinical guidelines and SHA pre-authorisation procedures. Only services provided at SHA-contracted and accredited facilities will be eligible for reimbursement.