The agreed G20 Leader’s Declaration from the summit in New Delhi last weekend addresses most key issues facing its members, including climate action, economic stability, and post-COVID population health. Questions about demographic change and its impact on all these issues were notably left out of these high-level discussions.

In 2019, almost half of all G20 countries (9 of the 19) were already considered to be “super ageing”, meaning at least 20% of the population is already aged over 65. By 2040, all except for four countries) will be classified as “super ageing”. The consequences of this demographic change for health systems, housing, the workforce, and the economy overall are significant but continued complacency from G20 leaders is concerning demonstrating their ongoing failure to understand the impact of this global trend on society. The role of immunisation in pandemic preparedness and across healthcare more broadly was also not addressed, even though immunisation is safe and effective, and the most cost-effective public health intervention there is. There are significant social and economic benefits of preventing ill health through vaccines that are currently being lost, particularly for older workers.

We know that older people tend to make more use of health services and are more susceptible to the effects of climate change. We also know that when supported, older age groups can make substantial contributions to the economy through work, volunteering, informal care, and spending. Workers over 50 earn every third dollar across the G20, and by 2035 are projected to generate nearly 40% of all household income. This “longevity dividend” was not acknowledged by G20 leaders, but it is a substantial untapped resource that will only increase as societies age. Poor health already limits too many older workers from fully participating in the economy – earnings and spending are known to be higher amongst older people who report good health.

In response, the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC UK), the premier think tank on demographic change and ageing, released a policy brief today focusing on the scope for enhancing healthy ageing at this year’s G20 summit. ILC UK contends that the global health architecture must better support older people for longer, and changes must be made with this in mind.

In India, the context for healthy ageing provided the backdrop to their Presidency of the G20:

• The number of adults in India aged 60 and over is set to double by 2050.
• India spends only $211 per capita on health care and $16 per capita on prevention, the smallest amount in the G20.
• More than half (51%) of people aged 50-69 in employment in 2018. Those aged 65+ spent more hours volunteering than older adults in any other G20 countries.

The ILC-UK’s brief outlines practical steps that G20 policymakers can take to foster healthy ageing, accompanied by three key recommendations:

• Allocate a minimum of 6% of national healthcare budgets towards preventative care.
• Recalibrate the perception of preventative healthcare as a vital link between health and wealth.
• Take decisive action to reduce health inequalities and disparities in healthcare provision.

Esther McNamara, Senior Health Policy Lead at the ILC and report author commented: “Some important steps have been taken at past summits to prioritise healthy ageing at the G20 level. However, too often words have not translated into action – we are not seeing the changes that are required to help people live healthier for longer. If India kept more of its population healthier for longer by investing more to prevent ill health, its economy could catapult well above the rest of the G20 in our Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index. This G20 summit was a real missed opportunity to prioritise healthy longevity at the global level for the benefit of populations now and in the future.”

Stephen Burke, CEO of the Hallmark Foundation which has co-funded the Index, said: “We all want to lead better, longer lives. But as the Index shows, there are big differences between countries. The Index gets policymakers to ask why and to focus their efforts on supporting ageing well. That means investing more in prevention and addressing inequalities across and between countries. The Index is a powerful tool to help create a better world for people of all ages. The G20 summit is a massive opportunity to lead this change.”

Steven Hickling, the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner to Gujarat and Rajasthan, commented: “The ILC is doing essential work, and their presentation in Gandhinagar during the G20 Health Ministers’ meeting in August 2023 was fascinating and timely.  With populations ageing across G20 nations, the ILC study is a reminder to governments that investing in preventative health care will improve lives and ultimately save public money.”

Ends

Contact

Press@ilcuk.org.uk or +44 (0) 7736 124 096. Spokespeople are available on request.

Notes

To view the ILC’s Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index and associated analysis, visit www.preventionindex.org The Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index is made possible by charitable support and grants from Amgen, GSK, Hallmark Foundation, MSD, Pfizer and Sanofi.