‘Man-age before it’s too late’
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must soon begin to put in place policies to manage its ageing population before it has a negative impact on the economy, said a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert.
WHO Department of Ageing and Life Course director Dr John Beard said South-east Asia was one of the fastest ageing regions in the world, adding that without appropriate policies and measures, there would be negative impact on economic growth as the current working population got older.
“For this reason, Malaysia must start thinking of policies that need to be put in place to prepare for the transition,” he said during the First World Congress on Healthy Ageing.
He said that besides keeping themselves healthy and taking measures to prevent noncommunicable diseases, there was a need to foster participation of lifelong learning to ensure that people of all ages had opportunities to build their skills and maintain their ability to be in the workforce.
The older age group should also be encouraged to be socially and physically active so they could contribute to their families and society, he added.
“The young need to realise that they are going to live longer, so they have to start thinking of the life they want to have,” he said.
Dr Beard also pointed out that there was a need to strengthen the link between the different generations to reduce isolation of older people.
The Philippine Society of General Internal Medicine president Dr Antonio Dans said that in South-east Asia, 75% of all disabilities affecting those aged 15 to 65 was the result of noncommunicable diseases, adding that this would hit their pockets in old age, particularly those in the low-income group.
“Piecemeal efforts will not work as it is a disease of the whole society. The thing that will make society work together, I think, is legislation. It would make it a responsibility for schools, workplaces and local governments to promote a healthy lifestyle through exercise, healthy diet and staying away from tobacco,” he said.