Health Systems Must Adapt To Accommodate Increasing Number Of Aging People Worldwide, WHO Says

News outlets highlight findings from a new WHO report on aging and health.

Deutsche Welle: Aging health: WHO call to action as world population over 60 set to double by 2050
“People worldwide are living longer, says the World Health Organization in its World Report on Aging and Health. This is both good and bad. It gives us the chance to ‘pursue new activities’ as we get older, such as in education and family life. But it all depends on our health. And for that the WHO says world governments need to act now to make sure our societies worldwide are ready…” (Abbany/Heise, 9/30).

U.N. News Centre: People over 60 will double by 2050 but little evidence they will be healthier — U.N. report
“… In advance of the International Day of Older Persons, which falls on 1 October, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said ‘most people, even in the poorest countries, are living longer lives, but this is not enough. We need to ensure these extra years are healthy, meaningful, and dignified,’ Dr. Chan said…” (9/30).

VOA News: WHO: Health Systems for Aging Need Urgent Revamp
“…The WHO report indicates existing health care systems are not designed to respond to [a range of chronic diseases and multiple ailments at one time] and that there must be a fundamental shift in the way society thinks about aging and older people, and that the environment is a crucial factor in determining whether people experience healthy aging…” (Schlein, 9/30).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

KFF Headquarters: 185 Berry St., Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94107 | Phone 650-854-9400
Washington Offices and Barbara Jordan Conference Center: 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 | Phone 202-347-5270

www.kff.org | Email Alerts: kff.org/email | facebook.com/KFF | twitter.com/kff

The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news, KFF is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.