Our President, Dr. Heidrun Mollenkopf, was one of the speakers at WHO Europe’s session on ageing, which was part of a series of hearings contributing to the development of the second European Programme of Work, 2025–2030, ensuring that it addresses key health challenges and promotes equity and resilience.
This session brought together Member States, partners, and civil society representatives to explore how Europe’s demographic shifts, including population ageing and changing urban–rural dynamics, are reshaping health systems, identify strategic reforms, and promote meaningful participation to guide policies well beyond 2030.
To start the hearing, Dr. Hans Kluge, Regional Director of WHO Europe, underlined the need for a paradigm shift, insisting that ageing is not a disease but a privilege. He stressed the need to debunk certain myths, including the importance of prevention (even for dementia) and the fact that ageing, in itself, is not the primary driver of costs. He also emphasised the necessity of a whole-of-society approach to ensure dignity and social connection, focusing on the contributions older people can make.
Following his remarks, keynote speakers discussed the societal and economic changes required to support healthy, productive ageing. This was followed by a panel of experts from across Europe who shared their perspectives on addressing these challenges.
5 Key Aspects for Reshaping Health Systems
Dr. Heidrun Mollenkopf, President of AGE Platform Europe, highlighted five key aspects essential to a health strategy under the motto “Ageing is Living,” emphasising that this demographic change requires government institutions to make major adjustments in all areas to maintain a balance between all the generations:
- Adopt a life-course approach.
- Understand health comprehensively.
- Change the deficit-oriented narrative around ageing to one based on equality and human rights.
- Enable access and participation for older people.
- Take the “Ageing is Living” slogan seriously.
Ageing is not a syndrome or a disease.
Check out this inspiring video from WHO Regional Office for Europe where people of all ages share what they think ageing is.
The hearings are a new initiative of WHO/Europe to gather as many inputs as possible from the European general public, civil society, partners, stakeholders and governments about what they think the new EPW should be all about.
A new strategy for WHO/Europe—about people, for people’s better health, and with inputs from those it’s meant to be about.
The feedback gathered at the hearing will contribute to the development of the second European Programme of Work, 2025–2030 (EPW2).
Explore the other hearings organised by WHO Europe here.
Important: Register by email and follow the instructions provided to watch the session.
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