The Global Aging Trend and Its Implications
Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the global population over 60 years will rise from 12% to 22%. We are in the Decade of Healthy Aging (2021-2030), a period during which the population of 60 years and older will increase by 34%, from 1,000 million to 1,400 million people. By 2050, they will surpass 2,100 million.
All countries face monumental challenges in adapting their healthcare and social systems to this demographic shift, ensuring it’s not a burden but an asset maximized. In this rapid aging scenario, the inevitable direction is to promote policies and initiatives prioritizing prevention and early intervention.
GSK’s Commitment to Aging Population
During a press briefing at GSK’s primary vaccine plant in Wavre, Belgium—dubbed the “Disney of vaccines” due to its massive size encompassing 70 football fields—GSK showcased its commitment to addressing these challenges. The facility, a hub for vaccine production, exports essential vaccines for both children and older adults to 150 countries.
GSK is investing in expanding its production using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital tools to accelerate vaccine development (currently working on 17 new ones) to meet the growing global demand. Their platforms incorporate various technologies, including adjuvants, mRNA, MAPS, recombinant, antigen/structural biology design, and membrane antigen technologies, enabling faster and more diverse vaccine production.
Otavio Cintra, GSK’s regional medical affairs leader for emerging markets, emphasized that GSK not only manufactures solutions but also drives a paradigm shift from merely managing diseases to proactive prevention. In a world marked by comorbidities, this perspective is more urgent than ever.
The Urgency of Preventive Measures
Chronic diseases account for almost three-quarters of global deaths, with 40% being preventable. In G20 countries, diseases preventable in people aged 50-64 cost the economy $30 trillion annually. These figures reflect real lives cut short, affected families, and burdened economies.
By 2050, 80% of older adults will reside in low- and middle-income countries, with aging accelerating much faster than before. In 2020, the number of people aged 60 or older surpassed that of children under five. This highlights the power of science and technology: preventing and altering disease roots.
GSK, aligned with this approach, boasts a growing portfolio in critical areas like respiratory, immunology and inflammation, oncology, HIV, and infectious diseases. In each category, GSK combines prevention and treatment by developing both vaccines and medications. This duality is crucial in a landscape where infectious diseases and chronic conditions intertwine.
GSK’s vaccination efforts for adults stand out with their shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine, Shingrix, successfully positioned for individuals aged 50 and above. This vaccine addresses age-related immune system weakening, making older adults more susceptible to infections.
GSK is set to launch Mexico’s first vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for older adults, adding to its existing offerings. RSV, often underestimated, causes severe hospitalizations in this population, especially with comorbidities. In Mexico, where diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular issues are prevalent, adults with these conditions face a high risk of hospitalization if they contract preventable diseases like RSV or shingles.
Mexico’s Health Sector Challenges
The recently published Programa Sectorial de Salud 2025-2030 is a significant step in Mexico’s health planning, reflecting realistic knowledge after years of improvisation. The plan by Secretary of Health David Kershenobich aims to unify the system and shift care towards prevention while acknowledging vulnerabilities like population aging and regional disparities.
The plan’s six central themes are plausible: 1) Universal vaccination coverage with a digital nominal registry; 2) Ensuring medication and supply availability through a centralized, transparent model; 3) Reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer; 4) Enhancing hospital quality with specialized protocols and constructing 27 new units; 5) Implementing a unified electronic clinical record to optimize care; and 6) Decreasing road fatalities, boosting organ transplants, and combating obesity and diabetes through food policies.
However, to make these ambitious goals credible, the 2026 Federal Expenditure Budget must prioritize health as essential and increase resources by at least 1% of GDP. Only then will it be believed that this government is serious about improving the healthcare system, rather than just expressing good intentions.
Mexico’s Hemodialysis Conundrum
Did you know that Mexico is the only country where chronic kidney disease is predominantly treated with hemodialysis—far more expensive and not always the best option—instead of peritoneal dialysis, which is more efficient and accessible?
The reason lies in a long-standing scheme encouraged by nephrologists not because it was the best option for patients but because it represented a lucrative business for them as specialists. Most hemodialysis clinics are owned by nephrologists, who worked in IMSS, ISSSTE, Sedena, etc., and directed patients to their clinics for hemodialysis.
There are intentions to break these perverse incentives. Let’s hope it’s done correctly.
References
- World Health Organization: Ageing and Health
- Decade of Healthy Aging Proposal
- United Nations Population Data
