Ageing-linked diseases prevention flagged up by Spain

AS the European population over 65 is expected to double in the forthcoming 50 years, the viability of public Health system may be at risk.

Thus, prevention of chronic diseases linked to ageing has been remarked by Spanish authorities it should be a top priority for the European Union.

The elderly population in Spain is nearly as high as 17 per cent, and the share of people over 80 years old – which currently stand on a 4.1 per cent – will keep growing in the next years, Spanish Health and Consumption Secretary General Pilar Farjas recently said during a EU summit.

In mid October, the Spanish Ministry of Health published its Strategy for addressing Chronic Diseases. Aim of the new strategy is to set goals and recommendations that will effectively manage health service deliveries to improve population’s health and its determinants, strengthen prevention of health conditions and reduce limitations in chronic and comprehensive care.