Protests at increase in health premiums

A decision by the Taiwanese government to raise national health insurance premium rates has resulted in angry protests by 20,000 workers in Taipei. The furore was caused by a cabinet decision to approve a proposal from the department of health to raise monthly premium contributions by amounts varying between NT$17 and NT$79. Medical patients earning more than NT$87,600 per month, and currently paying a fixed premium of NT$1,116 per month, will now pay NT$1,195.