MANILA, Philippines — Some 100 health workers from the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) and various health organizations Friday joined patients and families in a protest action in front of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) national office in Pasig City, to denounce the increase in premium payments being implemented by PhilHealth.

Dr. Geneve E. Rivera, HEAD secretary-general, said that an increase in PhilHealth premium only means a bigger burden on the people.

She added that the additional charges is unnecessary, especially at a time when most Filipinos are mired in unrelenting poverty.

Rivera explained that 100 to 160 percent increase in PhilHealth premiums will include individually paying members and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who will be charged at least twice the current amount they are paying, and formal sector employees, who will be charged not less than P2,520.