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HelpAge International

HelpAge

HelpAge International is the secretariat to a global network of organisations promoting the right of all older people to lead dignified, healthy and secure lives.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Idoia Mendia (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Jun 2025 · Meeting with Help Age Spain

Meeting with Idoia Mendia (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Sept 2024 · Meeting with HelpAge

Meeting with Toma Šutić (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica)

5 Dec 2023 · The meeting regarding the organization of an event in Brussels around the reform and recovery of Ukraine and elderly people

Meeting with Jutta Urpilainen (Commissioner) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and

1 Dec 2022 · Speech at the 2nd GAP III Structured Dialogue with CSOs

Response to EU strategic Framework for Global Health

16 Sept 2022

Population ageing is a triumph of development, in particular global progress on health. For the first time in human history most people can expect to live into their 60s and beyond. But as populations get older, we are seeing higher numbers of older people with more complex health and care needs. There is little evidence to suggest that people can expect to live these extra years in any better health than previous generations. Today, there are more than 1 billion people aged 60 years or older globally, with the majority (70 per cent) living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This number is set to increase to 1.4 billion by 2030 and to 2.1 billion by 2050. There is great diversity in how people age. Many older people maintain high levels of intrinsic capacity and functional ability well into later life. However, as people age, they are generally more likely to develop a health and care need. WHO estimates that at least 142 million older people worldwide today are unable to enjoy their basic rights including their right to enjoy an adequate standard of living and their right to food, clothing, suitable housing, and access quality health and care services. Older people face multiple barriers in enjoying their right to available, accessible, acceptable and quality health and care services, and to participate in decision-making related to their health and care. Health and care systems worldwide remain unprepared for the demographic and epidemiological transition all countries are experiencing. For example, while we are still seeing high rates of infectious diseases in many countries, and the ongoing and severe impact of epidemics and pandemics, with population ageing, the global pattern of disease is shifting towards non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs already contribute to 80 per cent of all years lived with disability globally and 71 per cent of all deaths. Failures to deliver the right care and support, in the right place, at the right time, mean critical opportunities are missed for cost-effective interventions that prevent or delay the onset of more acute needs and ensure older people can maintain the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age. For example, an estimated 80 per cent of NCDs are preventable and driven by modifiable risk factors. In order to drive progress on health inequalities and achieve health equity, a new Global Health Strategy must directly respond to the rights and needs of older people. It must also recognise and respond to how age might intersect with disability, gender and other characteristics. The new EU Global Health Strategy, including a commitment to driving forward progress on universal health coverage (UHC), provides important opportunities for governments to step up their response to the world’s ageing population. Promoting healthy ageing through a ‘health in all policies’ approach and investing in integrated, people-centred and age-inclusive health and care services will better serve current and future older generations and ensure societies around the world can reap the rewards of population ageing. The Sustainable Development Goals, the Decade of Healthy Ageing and the global push towards universal health coverage and multisectoral ‘health in all policies’ approaches provide opportunities to catalyse action. The new EU Global Health Strategy must recommit to supporting the achievement of healthy ageing, both through multisectoral action that addresses social determinants of health across the life course and by supporting progress on achieving age inclusive Universal Health Coverage. Further information, analysis, specific recommendations and links to further resources are provided in HelpAge International’s full response to this call for evidence which is provided as an attachment.
Read full response