Integrate now, create health: perspectives from Singapore

Population ageing is arguably humanity’s greatest challenge in the 21st century. The magnitude of this phenomenon, compounded by the increasing burden of chronic illnesses and the question of longevity and quality of life, will undoubtedly create health, economic and social demands on all developed and developing countries [1]. In Singapore, the government has created a multi-agency effort, led by a senior statesman, comprising of different public and non-governmental agencies representing social welfare, health, transport, housing, and infrastructure. This is a concerted effort to coordinate amongst various parties to manage what has been aptly termed as the ‘silver tsunami’. Singapore is the second most rapidly ageing population in the world today, due mainly to two key factors—the rapidly declining total fertility rate, and the increasing life expectancy at birth. While the population is still generally young now (8.5% are over 65 years old), the proportion of elderly is set to almost triple within the next 25 years.