Ageing in the Pacific: Strengthening health systems and policies for population ageing

The Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (APO), hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), invites you to a 75-minute webinar exploring how Pacific island countries (PICs) can strengthen health systems to address the unique challenges of ageing populations.

Register here

OVERVIEW

The Pacific region is undergoing a demographic shift. Longer life expectancy, combined with persistent health system challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), has placed ageing at the forefront of the regional policy agenda. As more people in the Pacific live into older age, health systems must evolve to meet changing needs. This means shifting from episodic care to integrated, long-term and person-centred support for the ageing populations and strengthening resilient and responsive health systems.

In response to this emerging issue, APO has produced a Policy Brief: Strengthening the health system response to population ageing in Pacific Island Countries. Developed in close collaboration with regional experts, the brief identifies system-level pressures, policy gaps and actionable strategies for ensuring healthy ageing in resource-constrained and geographically dispersed settings.

Over the course of 75 minutes, the webinar will highlight practical lessons and health systems and policy recommendations that can support more equitable and responsive health systems for older populations. 

OUR PANEL

🎙️ Speaker:

• Dr Anna Palagyi | Program Lead, Ageing and Health Systems, The George Institute for Global Health, Australia

🎙️ Discussants:

• Dr Mai Ling Perman | Head of School of Medical Sciences, Fiji National University
• Dr Ilisapeci Kubuabola | Team Leader, NCD Prevention and Control Programme, Pacific Community
• Dr Mikiko Kanda | Technical Lead for Healthy Ageing, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

🎙️Moderated by:

• Dr Nima Asgari | Director, Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies 

AGENDA

• Introduction of APO, policy brief, and speakers
• Presentation of key findings and recommendations from the policy brief on ageing in the Pacific
• Panel discussion on challenges and strategic health system responses to ageing populations in Pacific island countries
• Q&A session with participants to further explore how health systems across the Pacific can adapt to meet the needs of ageing populations

Learn how to navigate the health impacts of population ageing.