'Healthy ageing a fundamental pillar of sustainable development in Qatar'

Geneva: Qatar organised a side event at the World Health Assembly meetings in Geneva, focused on advancing the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030. The event was held in partnership with the Republic of Korea and saw high-level participation from countries, international organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.

The event highlighted policies and initiatives that promote healthy ageing, meet the needs of senior citizens, and create enabling environments for all.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Public Health H E Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al Mahmoud emphasised the importance of intensifying joint efforts to build healthier societies for people of all ages, forming new and effective partnerships and investments to accelerate progress towards shared goals for 2030 and beyond. He added, “Our legacy will not be measured by life expectancy alone, but by the quality of those years. Let us work together now to shape and achieve that future.” 

The Minister added, “In Qatar, we consider healthy ageing a fundamental pillar of sustainable development. We have prioritised integrated care models, age-friendly environments, and robust data systems to guide comprehensive, evidence-based policies.” 

The Minister of Public Health stated that Qatar’s national efforts are closely aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the World Health Organization’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work, and the objectives of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. These global frameworks reflect the priorities outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030 and the country’s national development and health strategies. He also stressed the need to design comprehensive and flexible systems that support senior citizens, especially in light of profound demographic changes worldwide.

He noted, “Qatar is proud of its regional role in this field through our WHO Collaborating Centre on Healthy Ageing and Dementia. We support knowledge-sharing and capacity-building across the Eastern Mediterranean Region and continue to engage with international partners to promote coherence across policies that impact ageing populations.” 

The event’s working sessions addressed key topics to strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes for senior citizens. 

Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Ageing and Dementia and Deputy Chief of Long-Term Care, Rehabilitation, and Elderly Care at Hamad Medical Corporation, Dr Hanadi Al Hamad, presented Qatar’s distinguished experience in integrated care for senior citizens.