As Asia ages rapidly, society must focus on health and wellness from an early age

Derek Goldberg says continuous efforts at better health practices across citizens’ lifetimes are necessary to prepare for an ageing society in Asia, where the populace is growing old especially fast

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Hong Kong’s Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan visits the Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club general outpatient clinic to view progress on the implementation of the government vaccination programme for 2017-18. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 2:01pm, 10 Dec 2017Updated: 3:36pm, 10 Dec 2017

Studies show that Asia’s population is ageing faster than anywhere else. Japan is forecast to become the first “ultra-aged” country, meaning 28 per cent of the population is 65 years or over, while one-fifth of the people in South Korea are expected to be 65 by 2030. China is now ageing more rapidly than almost any country in recent history and its dependency ratio for retirees could rise as high as 44 per cent by 2050. The impact of these shifting demographics is wide-ranging, from the strain on health systems to wider economic impacts.

Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, recently urged policymakers in the region to step up their response – calling out markets like China, Japan, Korea and Thailand – and warning of a drag on growth as shrinking workforces in key Asian economies lower productivity. And, of course, an ageing population also presents an added cost burden in rising health care costs – the Singapore-based Asia Pacific Risk Centre has predicted the swelling ranks of the elderly will cost the region US$20 trillion in health care by 2030.

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The time bomb began ticking generations ago. In 2002, the journal Science published a paper that showed a steady increase in lifespans beginning in 1840. When researchers charted average female life expectancy in record-holding countries, they found an increase of almost three months per year; a child born in any given year is likely to live three months longer than a child born the year before.

In 1840, Swedish women lived the longest: an average of just over 45 years. By 2000, Japanese women held the record and were living almost 85 years on average. Men’s life expectancy also grew linearly, just not as rapidly.

The World Health Organisation says that, by 2050, the number of people 65 or older is expected to reach 1.5 billion, triple the number in 2010.

So is 70 the new 60? With a greater “lifespan”, do people have a longer “healthspan”? The evidence is not yet conclusive.

As Asia ages rapidly, society must focus on health and wellness from an early age

Derek Goldberg says continuous efforts at better health practices across citizens’ lifetimes are necessary to prepare for an ageing society in Asia, where the populace is growing old especially fast

Why a nonagenarian Hong Kong caretaker feels longevity is a curse

China yet to exploit potential market for care facilities for its rapidly ageing population

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