Elderly people in Wuhan protest against cutbacks in medical benefits – China

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

武漢の高齢者、医療給付の削減に抗議デモ　中国

2023.02.16 Thu posted at 15:12 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） 中国中部の武漢で１５日、今月から施行された地元自治体の公的医療保険制度改革に不満を募らせた高齢者が、抗議デモを展開した。

ＳＮＳに投稿された写真や動画には、大勢の高齢者が市中心部の公園に集まり、医療給付の削減に不満の声を上げる様子が映っていた。

デモ参加者が革命歌「インターナショナル」を歌う場面もあった。

警察や政府はこの状況について公式にはコメントしていない。逮捕者が出ているかどうかは不明。大勢の警官隊が映った映像もあり、警官隊が群衆を抑え込もうとしている様子だった。

中国ではデモや不満表明が厳格に規制されているが、生活や環境問題に対する不満が小規模な抗議運動につながることもある。

武漢でのデモはこの１週間で少なくとも２回目。先週ＳＮＳに出回った動画には、大勢の高齢者が同じ問題で抗議デモを展開する様子が映っていた。

政府は先週のデモについて直接的なコメントを避けているが、武漢の保健当局は声明を発表して医療保険制度改革を確認。「短期的には医療給付を削減する」としながらも、長期的には「病人や高齢者にとっての恩恵になる」と強調した。

１月の公式統計によると、中国は人口１４億人のうち５分の１を高齢者が占め、６０歳以上の人口は昨年、２億８０００万人に増えた。中国の２０２２年の人口は、６０年以上ぶりに減少に転じ、経済の減速や高齢者介護に大きな影響を与えている。

Translation

Hong Kong (CNN) Elderly people in central China's Wuhan staged a protest on the 15th over the local government's reform of the public health insurance system which came into effect this month.

Photos and videos posted on social media showed dozens of elderly people gathering in a park in the city center to complain about cutbacks in medical benefits.

There was also a scene that demonstrators sang the revolutionary song "The Internationale".

Police and the government had not officially commented on the situation. It was unclear whether any arrests had been made. Some footage showed large numbers of police, who appeared to be trying to keep the crowd in check.

While demonstrations and to show discontent were strictly regulated in China, dissatisfaction with issues on daily life and environment had led to small-scale protests.

It was at least the second demonstration in Wuhan in a week. A video circulating on social media last week showed a large number of elderly people demonstrating against the same issue.

The government declined to comment directly on last week's protests, but Wuhan health officials issued a statement confirming health insurance reforms.  He emphasized that "In the short term, medical benefits it will be cut,” but in the long term it would "benefit the sick and the elderly."

According to the official January figure, older people made up a fifth of China's 1.4 billion people, and the number of people over 60 rose to 280 million last year. China's population in 2022 shifted to a decline for the first time in more than 60 years, this would have a significant impact on economic slowdown and elderly care.

              So, elderly people in Wuhan have staged a protest over the local government's reform of the public health insurance system. Officials emphasize that in the long term the changes will benefit the sick and the elderly. It seems that China's public health system is under pressure and I am wondering how many elderly people will believe that changes are good for them.