Delivering prevention in an ageing world
Programme 2020/2021
About the programme
Following our year-long Prevention in an ageing world programme that sparked conversations from Abu Dhabi to Taipei, Austin, Geneva, Sydney, London all the way to the G20 Health Ministers, the message is clear. It’s never too late to prevent. And the health and economic costs of failing to invest in preventative interventions across the life course are simply too high to ignore.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made these messages staggeringly clear and brought home the urgent need to match commitment with action by:
- Democratising access to prevention – to reduce health inequalities
- Inspiring and engaging policymakers, healthcare professionals and individuals – to invest, promote and take action on prevention
- Effectively utilising technology – to improve access to health care, improve uptake rates, reduce barriers and empower patients.
Over the coming year, we will be conducting research and engaging with stakeholders across the globe to understand not only “why” we ought to prioritise prevention across the life course but “how” we can deliver it.
This programme has been supported by:
News
12/02/21
ILC-UK response to NHS White Paper: Government must not forget the commitment to 5 extra healthy years
Responding to the NHS White Paper published today, David Sinclair, Director of the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC) – the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, said: “It is promising to see the commitment to more joint working across government on prevention. The case for prevention is clear. We know it is better than cure. We know it is cost-effective. And we know it saves lives. Yet preventative services are too often the first to be cut and the last to receive investment.
26/01/21
ILC-UK response to new ONS statistics on life expectancy
Responding to new ONS Health state life expectancies statistics released today, David Sinclair, Director of the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC), argued: “This new evidence paints a dismal picture of limited progress in improving healthy life expectancy in the UK. In fact, healthy life expectancy at birth has fallen significantly for women between 2017 to 2019 compared with 2014 to 2016.”
09/11/2020
COVID vaccine progress highlights urgent need for investment in adult immunisation infrastructure
Responding to the progress on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, ILC Director David Sinclair commented: “That we are one step closer to a vaccine against Covid-19 is brilliant news. The scientists have done their job. Now it’s time for policymakers and politicians to step up. Having a vaccine which works is just the starting point.”
29/09/2020
Press release: New global programme to support Governments to prevent ill health and learn from COVID-19
Following a year-long programme of work, including side events to the World Health Assembly and G20 Health Ministers, specialist think tank ILC-UK is tomorrow launching the second phase of its global programme on how healthcare systems can better prevent ill health in old age and what lessons can be learnt for governments across the world from COVID-19.
16/09/2020
Press release: “Keep people healthy to keep countries wealthy”, urges think tank ahead of G20 Health and Finance Ministers’ meeting
“It’s promising to see G20 Health and Finance Ministers coming together at this crucial time. COVID-19 has shown us first-hand that health equals wealth, as countries across the world have plunged into one of the hardest-hitting global recessions of the last century. In an ageing world, coming out of this recession will rely on governments across the G20 better engaging older workers, older consumers, older volunteers and older carers, who contribute immensely to the global economy.”
28/02/2020
Press release: “Never too late” to prevent ill health
Representatives of the World Health Organization; OECD, World Economic Forum; the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP); and the United Arab Emirates Prime Minister’s Office will join other UK and global health policymakers in London today at the culmination of a year-long programme of work (Prevention in an ageing world) exploring how health care systems can better prevent ill health in old age…
04/02/2020
Press release: Global health leaders meet to galvanise action around healthy ageing
On 28 February 2020, leading global health experts, including speakers from WHO and OECD, will meet in London to drive forward an agenda for change within health systems to prioritise the prevention of poor health in an ageing world…
04/12/2019
Press release: Preventing ill health key in unlocking longevity dividend
A new report (Maximising the longevity dividend) to be launched at the ILC’s conference tomorrow will highlight the increasingly significant contribution of older people to productivity. It will reveal that by 2040, the earned income generated by people aged 50 and over may account for 40% of total earnings – up from 23% in 2004 and 30% in 2018. Moreover, by 2028, more people aged 60 and over may work part-time than any other age group except for people aged under 30…
21/10/2019
Press release: “Now is not the time for inaction”, argue G20 Health Ministers
At an event hosted by the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC-UK), the specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, on Friday 18 October ahead of the G20 Health Ministers’ meeting in Okayama, G20 Health Ministers and global thought leaders agreed to cooperate to prioritise the prevention of ill health across the life course…
11/10/2019
Press release: ILC-UK host G20 side event on prevention in an ageing world
At the G20 Health Minister’s Meeting in Japan next week, the International Longevity Centre (ILC-UK), the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, is hosting an event on the importance of prevention in an ageing world with a number of expert speakers including the Rt. Hon. Matt Hancock MP…
03/07/2019
Press release: ILC welcomes G20 Leaders’ commitment to prevention across the life course
Following the G20 Leaders’ Meeting in Osaka last week, leaders have committed to promote “healthy and active ageing through policy measures to address health promotion, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases… over the life course”...
21/05/2019
Press release: “Never too late to prevent ill health”
There is already a consensus that preventing disease and limiting long-term illness and disability are both good for our health and will play an important role in supporting the economic sustainability of health systems. However, past decades have seen a continued focus of preventative interventions in early life, with too little attention focused on preventing ill health in later life...
Upcoming events
Expert roundtable: Delivering prevention in an ageing world – Effectively utilising technology
Date: Wednesday 7 April 2021
Time: 1.00pm to 3.00pm GMT
During this roundtable, we will share a draft consultation paper, collating insights from ongoing discussions with stakeholders on what works in increasing the uptake of technologies that aim to improve access to preventative services, including learnings from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We will also be asking for input on what more can be done to deliver prevention in an ageing world.
This event is invite-only. If you are interested in joining, please contact Liam Hanson
Past events
Expert roundtable: Delivering prevention in an ageing world – Democratising access to prevention
Date: Tuesday 9 March 2021
Time: 1.00pm to 3.00pm GMT
During this roundtable, we shared a draft consultation paper, collating insights from ongoing discussions with stakeholders on what works in making prevention easy and accessible to all, including learnings from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Expert roundtable: Delivering prevention in an ageing world – Inspiring and engaging
Date: Wednesday 17 March 2021
Time: 1.00pm to 3.00pm GMT
During this roundtable, we shared a draft consultation paper, collating insights from ongoing discussions with stakeholders on what works in inspiring and engaging policy makers with the prevention agenda, healthcare professionals with promoting preventative services and activities and individuals with uptake of preventative services and activities including learnings from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The NHS White Paper: Harnessing prevention for the success of future reforms
Date: Monday, 22 February 2020
Time: 2.00pm to 3.30pm GMT
The NHS White Paper set out legislative proposals for a Health and Care Bill and commits Government to more joint work on prevention. During this webinar, we discussed:
- How can prevention be best delivered by the proposed reforms?
- How can Government use NHS reform to deliver its commitment to five extra healthy years?
- What needs to be part of the forthcoming plan for public health?
- How can the potential of technology be realised and how can we tackle inequalities in access to preventative health?
Future of Ageing 2020: Together for tomorrow
At our sixth annual conference, we held a session discussing the need for a strategy for a healthier nation, how countries can work together on prevention, the role of (big) data and how we plan for health beyond the pandemic.
Speakers included:
- Lord Geoffrey Filkin CBE
- Francesca Colombo, Head of the Health Division, OECD
- Prof Les Mayhew, Head of Global Research, ILC
- Lily Parsey, Global Policy and Influencing Manager, ILC
Programme launch: Delivering prevention in an ageing world
At this event, we launched the second phase of our Prevention in an ageing world programme, where we will be moving from “why” we need to prioritise prevention to “how” we can deliver it.
Speakers included:
- Arnaud Bernaert: Head of Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum
- Prof Walter Ricciardi, President, World Federation of Public Health Associations
- Martin Jones, UK CEO, Home Instead Senior Care
Blogs
12/01/2021
Delivering prevention where people are: Mobile health clinics as a case study
Blog by Arunima Himawan, ILC
Most of prevention can and should be carried out outside hospitals, and primary care has a very important role to play here. Prevention should be delivered in places such as in community centres or in the workplace, with the support of the primary care system.
04/12/2020
In praise of ‘big data’ and analysis – putting a value on prevention
Blog by Prof Les Mayhew, ILC
Using big data to put a financial value on prevention could transform our decision making and improve our allocation of scarce resources, improve health and save the NHS money. Long considered the holy grail of public health, progress on this front has been faltering at best.
21/08/2020
Who gets the COVID vaccine?
Blog by David Sinclair, ILC
In an ageing world, where older people seem much more likely to die of the coronavirus than younger people, the question of who gets a future vaccine and when, is going to be at the front of policymakers minds over the next year. The answer may not be as obvious as it seems.
06/01/2020
If healthy ageing is the end point, how do we get there?
Blog by Julie Byles, Head of ILC Australia
At the ILC Global Alliance, we see ageing and longevity as the opportunity to live life to its full potential. Longevity is not just about a long life, but it is also about a good life. So, if healthy ageing is the end point, how do we get there?
15/11/2019
Exploring the role of prevention in Hong Kong
Blog by Harry Curzon, Policy and Communications Asisstant
In line with our ongoing work exploring the role of Prevention in an ageing world, we recently published a report on healthy ageing in Hong Kong. There is a general consensus that healthcare systems that prevent disease and limit long-term illness and disabilities are good for our health and at the same time play a crucial role in supporting the economic sustainability of health systems.
17/10/2019
Exploring the role of pharmacy in the primary health care and the prevention agenda
Blog by Gonçalo Sousa Pinto, Lead for Practice Development, Advocacy and Data Management, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
Community pharmacists and pharmacies have a key role to play in supporting healthy ageing and the maintenance of good health and quality of life across the life course. Harnessing their widespread distribution and accessibility, their close relationship with and knowledge of the community they serve, their long opening hours and, in most countries, teams of highly qualified health professionals, will allow pharmacies to play an even greater role in developing and delivering primary health care strategies, in collaboration with colleagues across the health care team.
11/07/2019
G20 commitment to prevention across the life course – what happens next
Blog by Lily Parsey, Policy and Communications Officer, ILC
In the communiqué published at the end of the 2019 G20 Summit in Osaka last week, leaders have committed to promote “healthy and active ageing through policy measures to address health promotion, prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases… over the life course”.
29/05/2019
Longer life is a great problem to have
Guest blog by Ann Keeling, Chair of Age International
Longer life – with life expectancy increasing just about everywhere in the world – is often presented as a problem. If so, it is a great problem to have. Of the many questions around ageing societies, one of the most pressing is how can we get the best out of those extra years of life by supporting people to be healthier, more socially engaged and active for longer?
Videos
06/04/21
Democratising access to prevention
24/03/21
Prevention and the social determinants of health
05/11/20
Good health underpins a longevity dividend
5/06/2020
Prevention in an ageing world – Programme 2019/2020
29/11/2019
What role can pharmacists play in the prevention agenda?
28/11/2019
Can better health drive a longevity dividend?
13/11/2019
David Sinclair discusses prevention at IAGG conference in Taiwan
30/10/2019
US Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services reflects on prevention in an ageing world
22/10/2019
Reflections on Prevention in an ageing world G20 side event
11/10/2019
Prevention in an ageing world – The role of nurses
23/09/2019
“Inaction is not an option” – Prevention in an ageing world
30/05/2019
US Assistant Secretary for Health Adm Brett Giroir discusses prevention in an ageing world
Publications
Using technology effectively – Consultation paper
Our third and final consultation paper identifies the key areas where technology can play a crucial role in helping push forward the prevention agenda.
Read the consultation paper here and respond to our survey by Monday 31 May 2021.
Inspiring and engaging people with prevention – Consultation paper
Our second consultation paper is seeking to collate insights on what works in inspiring and engaging:
- policy makers with the prevention agenda;
- healthcare professionals with promoting preventative services and activities; and
- individuals with uptake of preventative services and activities.
Read the consultation paper here and respond to our survey by Monday 31 May 2021.
Democratising access to prevention – Consultation paper
This is the first in our series of consultation papers, gathering evidence and seeking input on what works in democratising access to preventative interventions to tackle health inequalities.
Read the consultation paper here and respond to our survey by Monday 31 May 2021.
Health matters: Why we must commit to delivering prevention in an ageing world
Despite the clear economic and social benefits of investing in prevention, action on prevention lags behind and preventative services are often the first to be cut in times of crisis. This report sets out why, in the context of COVID-19 and population ageing, spending commitments are urgently needed to deliver prevention in an ageing world.
Delivering prevention in an ageing world leaflet
To find out more about our “Delivering prevention in an ageing world” programme, read of our leaflet here.
Never too late: Prevention in an ageing world
This programme is building on the findings and recommendations from our Prevention in an ageing world programme we ran over 2019-2020.
Our report: Never too late: Prevention in an ageing world can be found here.
Lost time: Productivity and the flu
Our report on the impact of the flu on productivity can be found here.
Prevention in an ageing world leaflet
To find out more about our 2019/20 “Prevention in an ageing world” programme, read our leaflet here.
Can you help?
We are seeking input from stakeholders across the world, including key experts, opinion formers and decision makers to discuss the emerging findings from our work and to develop recommendations.
We want to hear from you if you:
- Know of effective preventative interventions by health systems targeted at people aged 50+ which need to be brought to the attention of policy makers.
- Have carried out research in this area which you’d like to share with us.
- Would like to be kept up to date with our work, including future events.
Share your examples and wider ideas on prevention in an ageing world with us by emailing at: prevention@ilcuk.org.uk.
Respond to our consultation on democratising access to prevention by 7 April 2021 and our consultation on inspiring and engaging people with prevention by 23 April.