Prevention in an ageing world
Programme 2019/2020
About the programme
Across the globe, societies are getting older. People are living longer. And there is a growing shift towards encouraging longer working lives.
As countries age, it will be important to support people to live healthier lives for longer. By doing so we can not only improve wellbeing and enable people to remain active, but can also reduce dependency, bringing down the burdens on health systems.
There is already a consensus that preventing disease and limiting long-term impairment and the compounding impact of multiple diseases are both good for our health and will play an important role in supporting the economic sustainability of health systems. But translating that consensus into sustained action can be challenging.
To explore the role of prevention in an ageing world, ILC has launched an international programme of work to:
- Influence and shape the discourse around prevention to promote preventative measures across the life course.
- Examine the health and economic burden of a number of communicable and non-communicable diseases, in which there is potential for preventative interventions right across the life course.
- Draw together examples of effective preventative interventions and activities among adults in mid and later life and evidence the value of a range of primary, secondary and tertiary preventative interventions.
Over the coming year, we will be conducting research and engaging with stakeholders across the globe to reshape the discourse around prevention and promote preventative interventions right across the life course.
The “Prevention in an ageing world” programme is made possible by charitable support or grants from Gilead Sciences, GSK, MSD, Pfizer, Sanofi and Seqirus. Programme content is being developed independently of the funders and ILC-UK alone are responsible for the outputs.
Upcoming events
Prevention in an ageing world global launch event
Date: Friday 28 February 2020
Time: 2.30 to 4.30pm (followed by a drinks reception)
Location: Wellcome Collection, London
Following a series of global engagement events on Prevention in an ageing world, this event saw the launch of our research findings on the health and productivity burden of preventable diseases in later life and focussed on the need to implement preventative health interventions right across the life course.
The event brought together key global policymakers and thought leaders to share examples of good practice and drive forward an agenda for change within health systems to ensure the benefits that preventative interventions have on economic productivity and health system sustainability are maximised.
Speakers included:
- Dr Naoko Yamamoto, Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage and Healthier Populations, WHO
- Monika Queisser, Head of the Social Policy Division and Senior Counsellor to the Employment, Labour and Social Directorate to the OECD
- Dr John Beard, previously Director of Ageing and Life Course, WHO
- Dr Catherine Duggan, CEO, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)
- Sofiat Akinola, Project Lead, Global Health and Healthcare; Council Manager, Global Future Council on Longevity, World Economic Forum
- Alyaa Mulla, Director, National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing, Prime Minister’s Office, UAE
- Baroness Sally Greengross OBE, Chief Executive, ILC
- David Sinclair, Director, ILC
Past events
Prevention in an ageing world launch reception
Date: Tuesday 21 May 2019
Time: 3.30 to 5.30pm
Location: Geneva
Speakers:
- Baroness Sally Greengross, Chief Executive, ILC
- Dr Naoko Yamamoto, Assistant Director-General for Healthier Populations, WHO
- Dr Svetlana Akselrod, Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, WHO
- Ann Keeling, Chair, Age International.
Prevention in an ageing world – The role of pharmacy
Date: Saturday 21 September 2019
Time: 2.30 to 5.30pm
Location: Abu Dhabi
Prevention in an ageing world – G20 side event
Date: Friday 18 October 2019
Location: Okayama, Japan
This event was held alongside the G20 Health Ministers’ meeting in Okayama, Japan. It brought together key global policymakers and thought leaders to discuss how the role of healthcare systems in prevention across the life course can be supported, and the benefits that preventative interventions have on economic productivity and health system sustainability.
Speakers:
- Dr Yasuhiro Suzuki, Chief Medical and Global Health Officer, and Vice-Minister for Health, Japan
- The Honorable Eric D. Hargan, US Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Health, Singapore
- Prof Julie Byles, Director of the Priority Research Centre for Generational Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, Australia
- David Sinclair, Director, International Longevity Centre UK
Prevention in an ageing world – Three country perspectives
Date: Saturday 26 October 2019
Time: 4.00 to 5.30pm
Location: Taipei
This symposium ran as part of the 11th IAGG Asia/ Oceania Regional Congress 2019. For more information on the IAGG congress agenda, please click here. The symposium examined the trends in disease burden in our ageing world and draw out evidence to demonstrate the value of preventative interventions within health systems across the life course.
Speakers:
- Susana Harding, ILC Singapore
- Prof. Julie Byles, Newcastle University, Australia
- Dr. Ng Wai Chong, ILC Singapore
- David Sinclair, ILC-UK
Prevention in an ageing world – Pathways to impact
Date: Tuesday 5 November 2019
Time: 3.30 to 5.30pm
Location: Sydney
- Baroness Sally Greengross OBE, Chief Executive, ILC-UK (Chair)
- Prof Andrew Wilson, Director, Prevention Partnership Centre
- Vincy Li, Manager, Evaluation and Strategic Programmes, New South Wales Office of Preventive Health
- Prof Julie Byles, Global Innovations Chair in Responsive Transitions in Health and Ageing, University of Newcastle, ILC Global Alliance
- Arunima Himawan, Research Fellow, ILC-UK
- David Sinclair, Director, ILC-UK
Prevention in an ageing world – Implementing best practice
Date: Friday 15 November 2019
Time: 12 to 1.30pm
Location: Austin, Texas
News
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...
Blogs
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,
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
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
Can you help?
We will be meeting people 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
- – Would like to work with us to make the case for preventative interventions across the life course
- – 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.