Date: Wednesday 28 August 2024
Time: 12.00 – 1.30pm BST
Location: Virtual

​Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa and Asia, have made significant improvements in the last two decades to improve universal health coverage (UHC). In fact, eight of the 20 most improved countries from 2000 to 2021 on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) UHC Index are in Africa.

But the world is ageing quickly. By 2050, it is estimated the number of older adults across the world will more than double, rising to 2.1 billion, and 80% of them will reside in LMICs. LMICs are witnessing an epidemiological transition towards age-related diseases and health systems are at risk of being ill-prepared. Many older adults are already unable to access healthcare services when and where they need them without experiencing financial hardship.

We know UHC is essential to achieving healthy ageing and to maximise the economic and social benefits of living longer. But without careful consideration of and response to the health needs of older adults, we will not meet the 2030 UHC goal.

The impact of COVID-19, the climate crisis and wider threats to global health security means that now more than ever, we need to make achieving UHC a reality.

Our research on this topic uses our own Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index, the WHO’s UHC Index, and focus group discussions with older adults in LMICs in collaboration with HelpAge International.

Join us in this virtual roundtable where we’ll present our research so far, and discuss the improvements made in UHC in Africa so far and what more can be done to prepare for ageing populations. Register your interest using the button below.

This project is supported by Amgen.