Vietnam among the fastest aging populations in the world

In Vietnam, the proportion of elderly people is also increasing rapidly.

Elderly care in the face of population aging pressure

The world is currently experiencing an aging population at an unprecedented rate, with the United Nations reporting that by 2050, people over 60 will account for about 22% of the global population.

Currently, the proportion of elderly people in Vietnam is also increasing rapidly with about 12% of the population and this number is expected to increase to 25% by 2050.

Many challenges can be mentioned such as shortages, limitations in policies, infrastructure, specialized health services or the mental health of the elderly is also affected by loneliness and depression.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan shared that our country is facing major challenges in ensuring quality health care for the elderly.

It is a remarkable fact that although the average life expectancy is increasing, the number of healthy years is not proportional to that. Many older people have to live with illness, reducing their quality of life, putting great pressure on their families and the health care system.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan informed: "The elderly in Vietnam are facing a double burden of disease: both the cumulative consequences of chronic non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, dementia, etc. and the high risk of experiencing functional decline, treatment complications, drug dependence and reduced quality of life."

Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach to the care and treatment of elderly patients is an inevitable trend, in order to better meet the needs of comprehensive, continuous and personalized health care for the elderly.

To properly care for elderly patients, a multidisciplinary approach is required to meet the needs of comprehensive, continuous and individualized health care for the elderly.

This model requires close coordination between specialties such as internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, nutrition, clinical pharmacy, nursing... from prevention, early screening, diagnosis, treatment, hospital care, rehabilitation and home and community care.

This is why improving the quality of health care for the elderly is not simply about treating diseases but must also include prevention, rehabilitation, mental care and social support.

Developing a model of health care for the elderly

Over the years, the Ministry of Health has been developing many policies and strategies to adapt to population aging, including the National Strategy for the Elderly as well as enhancing the training of health human resources with the capacity to care for the elderly.

However, to achieve sustainable results, it is necessary to continue promoting research, developing integrated care models, applying information technology, artificial intelligence, and especially inter-sectoral coordination - not only in health but also in the fields of social protection, social security policy, training, and community.

Dr. Nguyen The Anh, Senior Physician, Director of Friendship Hospital, held a scientific conference focusing on key factors in managing elderly patients.

Faced with this reality, Friendship Hospital organized an international conference “Multidisciplinary approach in elderly patient management: Present and future” to create a scientific forum for researchers, doctors, policy makers and health organizations around the world to discuss optimal solutions to improve the quality of elderly care.

The conference gathered many domestic and foreign experts and scientists to discuss in thematic sessions on health policy, common diseases in the elderly such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic diseases, and especially the increasingly important role of clinical pharmacy in the safe and rational use of drugs.

National and international speakers attended and presented papers.

At the same time, the program exchanges lessons learned from countries with developed elderly health care systems, updates advances in diagnosis, treatment and management of cardiovascular diseases, oncology, pharmacology, and the application of digital technologies in disease management and long-term care, including: artificial intelligence, telemedicine, electronic health support and smart support devices.

Elderly health care is not the responsibility of a single organization or country, but a global issue that requires the joint efforts of the medical community, policy makers and society to create a more effective and humane health care system for the elderly.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/viet-nam-trong-nhom-gia-hoa-dan-so-nhanh-nhat-the-gioi-post868309.html