Public servants are protesting against a 9.5% increase in GEMS medical aid contributions, citing the rising cost of living and insufficient government salary adjustments. This increase follows a 13.4% hike the previous year, intensifying financial strain on workers, particularly those in lower and middle-income brackets. The protestors argue that GEMS was intended to provide affordable healthcare access and that the increases are economically unjustifiable and socially regressive. Testimonies from affected individuals highlight the growing gap between rising premiums and shrinking benefits, exacerbating financial pressures on their households.