International interest
Visit Australian Shadow Minister for Ageing
On October 6, the Australian Shadow Minister of Ageing, Margaret May visited the Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Ageing (NCHA). In Australia, the topic ageing is high on the political agenda. NCHA, one of NGI’s youngest centres, hosted a meeting with representatives from a range of initiatives in the Netherlands aimed at research, care and innovation in the field of healthy ageing: NCHA, Top Institute for Healthy Ageing, the National Care for the Elderly Programme and Priority Medicines for the Elderly, the UMC Groningen Healthy Ageing Institute and the Leyden Academy for Vitality and Ageing.
Australia has both a minister and a shadow minister for Ageing, indicating that ageing is high on the agenda and that much work is to be done. Likewise in the Netherlands, where the innovation portfolio specifically for seniors is just 0.06%, where youngsters are not interested in having jobs in geriatrics, and where raising the pensionable age is a hot issue. Ageing is considered a big problem in both Australia and the Netherlands. It is, however, more promising to consider healthy ageing as an opportunity for society and to do everything possible to make it work. Starting with knowledge exchange and collaboration, nation-wide and across boundaries, like in this meeting.
Australia has both a minister and a shadow minister for Ageing, indicating that ageing is high on the agenda and that much work is to be done. Likewise in the Netherlands, where the innovation portfolio specifically for seniors is just 0.06%, where youngsters are not interested in having jobs in geriatrics, and where raising the pensionable age is a hot issue. Ageing is considered a big problem in both Australia and the Netherlands. It is, however, more promising to consider healthy ageing as an opportunity for society and to do everything possible to make it work. Starting with knowledge exchange and collaboration, nation-wide and across boundaries, like in this meeting.
