As part of a regular virtual “In focus” briefing with WHO collaborating centres, WHO/Europe convened a dedicated session on healthy ageing. The meeting highlighted how WHO collaborating centres are contributing to the development of the forthcoming WHO/Europe strategy “Ageing is living: promoting a lifetime of health and well-being (2026–2030)”. The session was moderated by Donna Zilstorff, Technical Officer on WHO Collaborating Centres.
“Our collaborating centres are not just technical partners – they are the backbone of our evidence ecosystem,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, in his opening remarks. “They help us remain grounded in science while responding to the changing health and care needs across the Region.”
Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, emphasized: “WHO collaborating centres are essential partners in ensuring our strategy is informed, future-focused and fit for purpose. Their expertise and reach are critical to building resilient health systems and societies for population ageing”.
Dr Yongjie Yon, Technical Officer on Ageing and Health, presented the current status of the strategy and shared upcoming milestones. He outlined the multi-pronged approach guiding the strategy’s development – including regional data analyses, broad stakeholder engagement and a structured survey process to help countries prioritize key actions.
Three institutions shared their ongoing and planned contributions to support the evidence base and policy relevance of the strategy:
- Dr Vadim Samorodov, Deputy Director of the Russian Clinical and Research Centre of Gerontology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (a WHO collaborating centre), described efforts to develop training programmes on integrated care for older people in the Russian Federation and central Asia.
- Dr Róza Ádány and Dr Zoltán Ungvári, from the Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at Semmelweis University (Hungary), which is in the process of designation as a WHO collaborating centre, outlined plans to conduct a systematic analysis of ageing-related disease burden across the European Union, South-Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) and central Asia.
- Professor Ivan Bautmans, Department of Gerontology and the Frailty in Ageing Research Group at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), also in the process of designation, presented ongoing background analyses of regional health trends and the burden of noncommunicable diseases to inform the strategy’s technical foundation.
WHO/Europe will continue working closely with collaborating centres and partners to ensure the strategy is grounded in the latest evidence and responsive to diverse country needs. Plans are also underway to establish a WHO Collaborating Centre Network on Healthy Ageing and to convene an in-person stakeholder engagement later this year. This meeting will bring together WHO collaborating centres, research networks and ageing experts to co-develop a policy research agenda that complements the strategy and supports its implementation.