‘Creating sustainable health and care systems in ageing societies’, co-authored by the International Longevity Centre-UK, was launched at the Global Health Policy Summit on August 1st 2012.

The report features a description of the global challenge of ageing and highlights a number of innovations that could help to reduce the impact of an ageing society on health and social care systems. The report challenges policy-makers to address a series of key questions that should be considered when developing current and future health and social care strategies including:

• Do we understand the challenge that an ageing population presents to our health and care system?
• Do we have a clear vision about what we want our health and care system to look like in the next 20 years?
• Is the financial system right?
• Are we doing enough to help families to provide informal care?
• Are we doing enough prevention to reduce demand for care?
• Are we getting the best value in the way we supply care at home?
• Are our operational systems working to best effect?

The Global Health Policy Summit was jointly organised by the Qatar Foundation and Imperial College. Speakers at the summit included Prince Andrew, Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned of Qatar, Lord Ara Darzi, David Cameron and the then Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley.

Authors: Sally-Marie Bamford and Dr Dylan Kneale