Malta will face economic pressure post-2020 when public health and long-term care will drive up public spending, the deputy director general at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers, Martin Seychell, warned.
“This is the challenge our politicians face. As a democratic country, how do you take decisions now that will have significant effects within 20 years?”
He was speaking at the second in a series of public lectures themed Appuntament mal-Ewropa (Appointment with Europe), organised by the European Parliament Information Office in Malta.
The events are aimed at stimulating debate on particular European themes while adapting them to a local context.
Hospitals should be the last resort. Prevention is paramount
He referred to the Brussels White Paper Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013, which mapped out three main objectives, the first of which was fostering good health in ageing Europe.
“At present, a newborn has a one in three chance of making it to live to 100,” Mr Seychell pointed out.
According to Eurostat figures, the over 80s age group is the fastest growing sector of the population. It increased by 50 per cent over the last 18 years and is likely to rise over 160 per cent by 2060.
In 1990, for every person over 65, there were five of working age. Today, there are only four. By 2060, there will be just two.
In a pessimistic scenario, health spending could increase by 2.8 percentage points of GDP between 2010 and 2060. However, improving the health of older people can limit growth in health spending to 0.5 percentage points of GDP.
On the concept of healthy ageing, 2011 Eurostat figures show that Malta has the highest rate for women and the second highest for men.
“Such statistics have to be approached with caution,” Mr Seychell advised.
“The question asked to compile data was: do you feel healthy? It’s clear that Malta’s elderly are very optimistic but this could be due to the fact that they have a strong support network, which might not be there in the future.”
One of Malta’s 2013 country specific recommendations was to take measures to increase the employment rate of older workers by finalising and implementing a comprehensive active ageing strategy.
The second was to pursue healthcare reforms to increase the cost effectiveness of the sector, in particular by strengthening public primary care provision.
“Malta’s public primary care is its notorious weak point. Its healthcare model is very much based on hospitals,” Mr Seychell said.
“However, this is not suitable for chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma.
“You have to work upstream, in the community and in schools. Early intervention is vital, especially in the case of chronic diseases. Hospitals should be the last resort. Prevention is paramount.”