NAIROBI — A simmering standoff between Kenya’s private hospitals and the government has escalated into a direct threat to teachers’ access to healthcare. On Sunday, the Rural & Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) announced it will suspend services for patients covered by the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme unless the state pays Ksh.10.6 billion in overdue claims. But private hospitals say they will not honour the new cover unless all outstanding claims are cleared. “The migration of teachers’ insurance must not happen before Minet and MAKL pay hospitals,” Dr. Lishenga warned. “Come December we will not offer services to teachers if hospitals are not paid.”RUPHA claims hospitals are still owed up to Ksh.20 billion for services previously provided to teachers and police under Minet and MAKL.