• Annecy Declaration calls for urgent investment in prevention among rising health inequalities and population ageing
• “We have a window available where we can build on [the international COVID response] – we must take it”, argue signatories
• New international index launched to track progress in healthy ageing and prevention across the world

Following an exclusive residential summit at the Global Health Centre in Annecy, France, global health leaders have come together to call for greater investment in preventative health, such as vaccination, early detection and management of disease, as countries recover from the pandemic.

The Annecy Declaration, co-signed by representatives of the UN, Geneva Medical University and the Coalition for Life-Course Immunisation among others, urges governments to spend at least 6% of health budgets on preventative care, to better integrate services and tackle inequalities, as they come out of the pandemic.

Arunima Himawan from the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC), who ran the Global Prevention Summit, argues:

“We know preventative approaches to health work, that they’re cost-effective and can save lives. However, despite the clear economic and social benefits of investing in prevention, preventative services are often the last to receive investment and the first to be cut in times of crisis.”

“G20 governments have already committed to improving population health and investment in prevention, and during the intense responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a path to how these commitments might be implemented. We have a window available where we can build on those responses and make those adaptations permanent – we must take it.”

To build on this pledge, ILC, the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, is developing a Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index that will track, for the first time, countries’ progress in supporting their societies to live longer, healthier lives.

Nicola Oliver, Director of Medical Intelligence and Co-Chair of the COVID-19 Actuaries Response Group, says:

“Rather than always ‘firefighting’ health crises, we need a concerted effort to implement a true public health approach. This must start with meaningful action towards prevention, addressing the social determinants of health, investing in communities and building and maintaining trust between all communities and those in positions of leadership. Governments need to take a ‘whole of society’ approach with domestic investment in health systems, and public health and social care structures to work towards building resilience. This will help us arrive at a true global approach to build upon proven successes and tackle the biggest health challenges.”

Daphné Holt, Chair of Coalition for Life Course Immunisation,­­ argues:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of governments investing in vaccines and vaccination programmes and what can be achieved when there is the political will. The rollout of these vaccines highlights how vaccination isn’t just for kids – they’re for everyone at all ages and stages. Over 20 diseases can be prevented through taking a life-course approach to immunization so we must invest in it now, to ensure a healthier and more productive population in the future.”

Ends

Annecy Declaration

Towards a healthier recovery – A window of opportunity

We know preventative approaches to health work, that they’re cost-effective and can save lives. However, despite the clear economic and social benefits of investing in prevention, preventative services are often the last to receive investment and the first to be cut in times of crisis. In the context of an ageing society, this needs to change.

We need:

• More investment – at least 6% of national governments’ health budgets – committed to prevention as a starting point for any meaningful action.
• Better, more integrated strategies and structures to support the prioritisation of and access to prevention and drive efficiency in healthcare delivery.
• Greater support for healthcare workers, through better paths for interprofessional collaboration, better working conditions, so they can be the champions of prevention they could be.
• Concerted efforts to tackle inequalities and put people and communities at the centre of healthcare delivery.
• Data and technology that works for us, building on the data and technology infrastructures built during the pandemic to empower people around their own health.

Poor health is not an inevitable consequence of an ageing population – but we will see a growing burden of preventable disease if governments continue to stand by. G20 governments have already committed to improving population health and investment in prevention, and during the intense responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a path to how these commitments might be implemented.

We have a window available where we can build on those responses and make those adaptations permanent – we must take it.

David Sinclair, International Longevity Centre UK

Julia Ferre, United Nations

Nicola Oliver, Medical Intelligence and COVID-19 Actuaries Response Group

Catherine Weil-Olivier, Coalition for Life Course Immunisation

Jean-Pierre Michel, Honorary professor, University of Geneva, Medical Center

Sholpan Tursynbayeva, GSK

Cécile Barral-Baron, Sanofi

Marie-Christine Truchet, Pfizer

Sean Lybrand, Amgen

Daphné Holt, Coalition for Life Course Immunisation

Tilly Robinson-Miles, Eat Well Age Well Project, Food Train Scotland

Monash University, Victoria Australia

Sprink Ltd

Notes

Contact press@ilcuk.org.uk or +44 (0) 208 638 0832 for press queries. Spokespeople are available for interview.

The Annecy summit brought together global health leaders from across the UN, World Medical Association and the Centre for Global Health Security among others.

The recording of the summit is available from: Delivering prevention in an ageing world – Global summit – ILCUK

Find out more about the Healthy Ageing and Prevention Index at: Delivering prevention in an ageing world – ILCUK

About ILC

The ILC is the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, and what happens next.

The International Longevity Centre UK was established in 1997 as one of the members of the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance, an international network on longevity.

Since our inception, we have published over 275 reports, organised over 350 events including the annual Future of Ageing conference.