Concept note

 MEV-MEJ Forum on Sharing Experiences in Adaptation to Ageing and Care for Elderly between Japan and Viet Nam

29/8/2023, Ha Noi, Viet Nam

 1. Background

Population ageing is a global phenomenon and one of the rapidly demographic changes on the planet today. Countries are experiencing an increase in both of the size and proportion of elderly people in their total population, especially developing countries in the world.

Viet Nam has begun the population ageing period since 2011 with the number of elderly (at aged 65+ years old) accounted for 7% total population. In 2021, the number of elderly people in Vietnam accounted for 8.3% of the total population, equal 8,16 million elderly[1]. According to the population projection, the number of elderly people in Viet Nam will be increased to 16.8 million people in 2039 and reached 25.2 million people in 2069. Viet Nam will enter an aged period by 2036, when as, the proportion of the population at aged 65+ years old is 14.2% of the total population. Viet Nam will enter the super-old age after 20 years (2036-2055). The proportion of the population aged 65+ in 2056 and 2069 will be accounted for 21.1% and 21.5% of the total population, respectively. If in 2019, there was every 2 children for one elderly, then 50 years later (year 2069), there will be every 2 children for 3 elderly people[2]!

Population ageing bring both of opportunities and challenges in terms of socio-economic development. As for opportunities, ageing can promote the development of fields such as insurance, banking, nutrition, tourism, technological innovation, and application of science and technology to production or management in the context of economic growth, shortage of labor force…

However, aging also brings serious challenges in terms of economic growth, social security, labor, infrastructure design, etc., especially in the healthcare sector. Elderly often has many non-communicable diseases that require lifelong treatment such as blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental disorders etc.

Japan is a super aged country. In 2022, the number of elderly (at aged 65+ years old) is 36.2 million people, accounting for 29% of the total population in Japan[3]. It is projected that, the number of elderly people will be increased to 37.3 million people, but accounts for 31% of the total population of Japan by 2030 (due to the decrease in fertility, the population size also decreases) [4] and will be continue to increase to 40% of the total population by 2060[5].

Japan is a country with a lot of experiences in building an aging population society such as restructuring the health system, geriatric care, building and managing elderly care facilities, making policies on social security, labor, infrastructure design and the promotion of the role, caring for the elderly... Experiences from Japan will be valuable lessons for Viet Nam in building a healthy, active aging society.

Base of the beautiful cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan in the field of health-population, the General Office for Population and Family Planning (GOPFP), Ministry of Health (Viet Nam), Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Medical Excellence JAPAN (MEJ) together holding the MEV-MEJ Forum on Sharing Experiences in Adaptation to Ageing and Care for Elderly between Japan and Viet Nam.

2. Objectives:

- To delve into the challenges for aging in Viet Nam and to share experiences, lesson learns in adaptation to ageing and care for elderly between Japan and Viet Nam;

- To discuss on the possible collaborative project ideas between Viet Nam and Japan for the aging society

3. Contents: The detail agenda as an enclosed file.

3.1. Opening: The Workshop warmly welcome the opening remarks by leader of General Office for Population and Family Planning, Ministry of Health (Viet Nam) and leader of Medical Excellence JAPAN.

3.2. Policy Discussion:

The session is combined: (Part 1.1) Current Challenges for Ageing Society in Viet Nam; (Part 1.2) Comprehensive Measures for Aged Society in Japan; (Part 1.3) Discussion. The session focuses on the overview (including the trend) of ageing and health status of elderly in Viet Nam. Ageing not only brings challenges but also opportunities for socio-economic development such as in insurance, finance-banking, health care, nutrition, tourism, etc will be discussed in this session. The session also in deeply discuss on the experiences and lesson learns in adaptation and building an aged society in Japan such as the evolution of Japan's medical and nursing insurance systems, social determinants to address health disparities in the aging or related business development for aging.

3.3. Practical Dialogue: Elderly-centered community and well-being

 The session focuses on the current status of geriatric care in Viet Nam, the role and participation of the private sector in care for elderly as well as the community-based care for elderly with an example from Ho Chi Minh city, examples of care-related industries in Japan, issues in business development in Viet Nam from the perspective of business design and human resource education.

The session will also discuss on the way forward of strengthening cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan in collaborative project idea for ageing society. And how government call on all stakeholders work together in order to build a healthy and active ageing society in Viet Nam.

4. Speakers:

Speakers who are policy consultants, managers, economists, researchers in the field of health-population from Japan and Viet Nam.

5. Methodology:

The workshop will be a hybrid event of online and offline. The venue for offline (face to face) workshop will be to provide for all participants and the facilities for online/virtual workshop will also be offered for the participants who cannot attend in person in Ha Noi.

6. Time and Venue:

- Time: 01 day, 29/8/ 2023

- Venue: Pullman Hotel, No 40 Cat Linh, Dong Da, Ha Noi, Viet Nam

7. Languages: Vietnamese and Japanese. Direct translation will be provided

8. Participants: expected 120 participants

Participants who are policy makers, state managers, official, businessmen, service providers, researcher and teachers related to aging and care (including health care) for elderly in Japan and Viet Nam.

For further information, please visit: cpts.vn/mevmej

Contact:

Luong Quang Dang (Mr.)

Director of Personnel Department

General Office for Population, Ministry of Health, VN

Mobile: 0904 377 869 Email: [email protected]

 Shoko Misaka (Ms)

Manager of Healthcare Services

Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

Email: [email protected]