Tens of thousands of people in Wuhan gathered in Zhongshan Park and Jiefang Avenue on Wednesday (15th) to demonstrate and demand that the authorities withdraw the "New Medical Treatment Policy". The protesters, who sang "Unity is Strength," included retired workers and citizens of Wuhan, who complained of cuts to health care subsidies and increased financial burdens.
Tens of thousands of retirees in Wuhan city government rally to protest cuts in medical expenses
At 8 o'clock on Wednesday morning, another large-scale demonstration took place in Wuhan: "I am here in Wuhan City. On February 15, 2023, there are huge crowds of people defending the rights of the medical insurance reform. (Singing) Unity is strength, unity is strength. "
Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered at the entrance of Zhongshan Park and Jiefang Avenue in Wuhan, singing the song "Unity is strength". Get into the police car, but most of the people are still at the park gate. He said that the police told them all to go to Zhongshan Park: "All of us were asked to go into Zhongshan Park. There were policemen everywhere and plainclothes standing at the gate of the park."
This is another mass demonstration in Wuhan after last Wednesday. People protested against the government's reduction of the monthly medical subsidy of more than 260 yuan to tens of yuan. Nearly two million retirees in the city were affected by this. At that time, the people said that if the government did not agree to their demands, a larger protest would be held again this Wednesday.
Zhang Hai, a Wuhan resident, told this station on the same day that retirees collectively protested against the government’s so-called new medical policy last week, but they did not get a satisfactory response. They protested again today: “Since last night, many people (the government) have said no Go to Zhongshan Park instead of Shouyi Road. This morning, many neighborhoods in Wuhan were sealed off, but many people came out and planned to gather here and march along the Yangtze River Bridge.”
Zhang Hai said that many police officers visited the area, and at the same time closed the entrances and exits of multiple subway stations: "At the same time, the mobile phone network signal was also blocked, and then the crowd was dispersed. People at the scene said that many people have been arrested."
Thousands of police force maintain stability, block roads and subway exits
Zhang Qiang, a Wuhan resident, said that the scale of the parade that day was larger than a week ago, and the police had prepared for it, but did not take drastic action: "Many people were detained at home, and I was also arrested. The police around Jiefang Avenue and Zhongshan Park are in full swing. .”
The public’s protests became more intense on Wednesday. Mr. Zhang said that not only retirees but ordinary residents have been affected by the government’s “New Health Care Policy”: “People who pay 400 yuan a month for medical insurance , They (government) don’t have money to transfer to the account now, so they don’t have money to buy medicines. You have to go to the clinic to spend it. In the past, there were more than 100 yuan of feedback per month, but now they don’t give you feedback. Originally The money can be used flexibly to buy medicines, but now I have to go to the hospital to see outpatients, and now I have no money to go to the pharmacy to buy medicines."
The Wuhan authorities explained to the residents earlier that the new medical policy has increased the treatment of ordinary outpatients in the long run. Some netizens responded immediately: The payment has increased, and the refund has become lower. So I don't want to benefit from it. Another netizen said that the rules can be changed, but they must be approved by the majority of the people, not that the government can change the rules just as it says.
Ordinary residents reimburse 50% of civil servants for medical reimbursement
Ma Yongnian, a self-employed businessman in Wuhan, told reporters that this new medical treatment policy was also implemented in Guangzhou, but it was opposed by the majority and was forced to stop. The officials in Wuhan wanted to win the praise of the central government. In the final analysis, the medical insurance fund ran out of money: The roads are blocked, and there are tens of thousands of people. Because of residents’ opinions, Guangzhou has stopped implementing this new policy, but Wuhan City has to insist. I am also affected. I received more than 100 yuan in medical expenses a month before. I am reimbursed by myself, but now I have to go to the hospital to buy medicine, and I can only be reimbursed for 50% in the top three hospitals, and the threshold fee can only be reimbursed after the threshold fee exceeds 700 yuan."
Ma Yongnian also said that what makes the public most angry is that government civil servants are not affected by the new medical policy and can be fully reimbursed for medical expenses.
The people involved in the new Wuhan medical policy are not just two million retirees, but millions of people.
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ASIA UPDATE