The Social Health Authority (SHA) has clarified that applicants seeking In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) services under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF) are not required to provide a marriage certificate after a teacher’s application sparked public concern over the scheme’s eligibility requirements. IVF is an assisted reproductive treatment used by people experiencing infertility and is among the most expensive fertility procedures available in Kenya.

The matter attracted public attention after the teacher sought pre-authorisation for IVF under the enhanced medical scheme for public officers. According to reports, she was instructed to submit a marriage certificate or an affidavit confirming her marital status, prompting questions over whether the benefit was restricted to married applicants.

The requirement also drew criticism from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), which argued that such a condition was not part of the medical cover negotiated for teachers and risked denying eligible members access to treatment.

In response, SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mercy Mwangangi said the marriage certificate requirement resulted from an administrative error and was not part of SHA’s official IVF approval process. She said the hospital handling the application had been advised to resubmit the request for processing without the additional requirement.

The clarification comes as SHA rolls out expanded healthcare benefits under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, which now includes IVF treatment for eligible beneficiaries. The introduction of fertility services has been viewed as a significant addition to the scheme, offering financial support for a treatment that has traditionally been out of reach for many families because of its high cost.

However, the incident also highlighted confusion surrounding the implementation of the new benefit. Earlier information on the scheme referred to principal members and their lawfully declared spouses, leading to uncertainty over how eligibility criteria would be applied during the approval process.

While SHA has maintained that proof of marriage is not required for IVF pre-authorisation, the incident has prompted calls for clearer communication between the authority, healthcare providers and scheme administrators to ensure beneficiaries receive consistent information when seeking specialised treatment.

SHA’s clarification brings to an end uncertainty over whether proof of marriage forms part of the IVF approval process, although questions remain over how the guidance will be applied across healthcare facilities.