{
  "id": 11324808,
  "title": "Experts call for ‘Ministry of Longevity’ to prepare Malaysia for aged nation status",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/experts-call-for-ministry-of-longevity-to-prepare-malaysia-for-aged",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-02T01:04:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/02/experts-call-for-ministry-of-longevity-to-prepare-malaysia-for-aged-nation-status/237315"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, October 2 — Malaysia should coordinate policies and efforts concerning longevity and older people, according to National Council of Women's Organisations (NCWO) Malaysia president, Prof. Emerita Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan. Dr Sharifah suggested the establishment of a coordinating body, which could be a council or committee, managed by the federal government. This body should involve multiple sectors, including the government, private sector, and non-governmental organisations. The proposed body would examine policies on creating a society that not only lives longer but also makes the most of life in old age, encompassing economic, social, health, and educational aspects. Dr Sharifah highlighted that various ministries currently manage different aspects of older people's matters, such as the Ministry of Economy handling the National Ageing Blueprint 2025-2045 and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development overseeing the Malaysia Care Strategic Framework and Action Plan (2026–2030). For example, caregiving and the care industry involve both economic and social dimensions, while tourism, a significant industry, caters to the diverse interests of older travellers. At a panel session titled 'The Long Horizon: From Structural Force to Lived Reality' at the ISWC 2026 conference, Dr Sharifah emphasised the need for a governing body to oversee all initiatives related to longevity and older people in Malaysia. Earlier, UK's National Innovation Centre for Ageing Director, Prof Nicola Palmarini, proposed the concept of a 'Ministry of Longevity,' which he argued is currently missing from global governments. Palmarini suggested that such a ministry could measure the return on different longevity policies, examining factors like education, social conditions, and pollution that influence people living long, healthy lives. He also emphasised the importance of involving the private sector in designing age-friendly services, such as package tours tailored for the elderly with less demanding schedules and accessible amenities.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — Malaysia should coordinate efforts and policies when it comes to longevity and older people,...",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysia should form a coordinating body for longevity policies, suggests NCWO president.",
    "Proposed body would involve government, private sector, and NGOs in aging initiatives.",
    "Current ministries handle different aspects of older people's matters, body would unify efforts."
  ],
  "editors_take": "A proposed Ministry of Longevity would centralize and coordinate policies on ageing, allowing Malaysia to better address the needs of its growing elderly population and tap into related economic opportunities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Experts call for ‘Ministry of Longevity’ to prepare Malaysia for aged nation status",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/experts-call-for-ministry-of-longevity-to-prepare-malaysia-for-aged-11326864",
        "published": "2026-10-02T01:04:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}