Can’t stand it! Chinese elderly protesters in Wuhan, Dalian After the government cut the budget for reimbursement
The BBC reports that on February 15, Chinese elderly people gathered to protest China’s changes in medical costs policies in Wuhan and Dalian.
The protest marks the second time Chinese citizens have voiced their voices in Wuhan. The first round of protests took place on Feb. 8 after Chinese authorities cut medical expenses that retirees can afford.
Videos on social media showed protesters, mostly retired seniors, singing the anthem of the International Communist Party, “the Internationale.” But the protests have spread to different parts of the country, where the idea of rallies seems to have changed.
Today, tens of thousands of Chinese pensioners took to the streets of Wuhan to protest against the govt cutting their medical benefits. In true communist fashion, CCP authorities sent in the police. Take a look:pic.twitter.com/VgH5ny0m1z
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) February 15, 2023
Changes in health benefits for those retirees which officials described as a reform It happened during the time China escaped from the brutal COVID epidemic. After Beijing abruptly relaxed its containment measures late last year, This plan aims to reduce the right to reimbursement of medical expenses in exchange for increasing the scope of coverage to be more comprehensive.
However, the policy has caused heavy criticism on social media that Chinese officials are seeking to recoup the massive amounts lost in mandatory COVID-19 testing and other epidemic measures.
Officials in both Wuhan and Dalian said They didn’t know about this latest protest. and no comments on such matter The local police could not be contacted.
The protests come at a time of soaring medical costs. It has put pressure on President Xi Jinping’s government, which is set to kick off the National People’s Congress in the coming weeks.
