26
Jan

Increased longevity, migration, and urbanization are creating a growing need for long-term care and support for older adults in Asia and the Pacific. Changes in population structure, such as an aging population or a rise in NCDs, are a primary driver of increased healthcare costs. This highlights the urgent need for sustainable financing mechanisms, such as health taxes and investment in aging with affordable and integrated health and social services.

Health taxes are a tool used to transform a country's health system. They provide a reliable funding stream for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), shifting the system's focus from a reliance on curative care to a stronger emphasis on preventive health. This transformation is necessary to meet the challenges posed by changing demographics and the rising burden of NCDs.

As more individuals prefer to age in place, developing home and community-based long-term care services is becoming an urgent policy priority. Therefore, sharing experiences across Asia and the Pacific, focusing on effective and affordable integrated health and social service models which promote healthy aging and improve the quality of life for seniors and their families.