facilities, depending on local needs,
high-quality care. There will also
of people, while collaborating with
from simple medical facilities in rural
be opportunities in developing
governments and researchers.
areas to hospitals offering a full range
innovative solutions in microfinance
of care in big cities. The number of
and microinsurance schemes to
Products and services for aging
private clinics will rise considerably,
allow people outside national health
populations
and their development will be
insurance systems to have access
By 2020 people aged 65 and above
facilitated by the establishment of
to better healthcare. This can help
will account for about one-fifth
efficient health insurance systems.
to ensure that individuals are able
of the total global population(see
to access the treatment they need
figure 4.6). This ratio will be even
All this will require a range of
while limiting the cost to society or
larger in developed countries such
services, some of which will be
the national coffers.
as Italy, Germany and Japan. This
outsourced to private firms (e.g.,
older demographic is likely to be
catering, cleaning, security), and
Risk factors
better educated, more comfortable
also advanced and affordable
The global effort to reduce
with technology, and healthier
medical equipment.
environmental risk factors will lead
than today. It will also be highly
to greater demand from people in
represented in political decisions.
Staying healthy
emerging economies for safe water,
Although the story in the developing
The shift from cure to prevention
sanitation, clean air and housing,
world will still largely be one of
will be a top priority, entailing new
and green energy. Improved
youth, some emerging populations
business opportunities in medical and
sanitation facilities could reduce
will age considerably as their
non-medical products and services.
diarrhea-related deaths in young
economies develop and offer better
children by more than one-third. If
healthcare and life services.
There will be greater demand for
hygiene promotion is added, such
reliable sources of information on
as teaching proper hand washing,
Each month around 1.9 million
the Web and for health management
deaths could be reduced by two-
people in the world will join the
software that helps people to better
thirds. It would also help accelerate
ranks of the over 65s.9 These
manage their personal health. There
economic and social development.
people will seek goods and services
will be tremendous opportunities
More generally, business
that enable them to maintain
for the food industry, with the
opportunities will go to companies
independent, integrated lives.
development of foods and beverages
able to develop safe products that
Meeting their needs will have an
that improve health and nutrition,
cause no health damage.
impact on all aspects of societal and economic well-being. It will
for organic food, and restaurant chains or catering firms offering
Early responses to emerging
only be sustainable if older people
these products. There will also
communicable diseases and
are given the opportunity to live
be demand for fitness and sport
pandemics will be necessary.
independent and dignified lives, are
infrastructure, coaching services and
Governments and businesses will
fully integrated into society, and are
high-tech sports equipment.
make big investments in the search
able to contribute to meeting global
for early diagnosis, drugs and
challenges. The impacts on social
Financing
vaccines, as well as management
budgets and future generations’
Better cost and performance
systems that help them coordinate
quality of life will also place pressure
management will require broader
complex responses globally. There
on social systems, straining pension,
involvement of private insurance
will be great opportunities for
healthcare and education systems:
companies and healthcare providers
responsible firms that can rapidly
challenges all requiring innovation
working with governments to offer
dispense safe products to billions
and change.
50
Vision 2050: The new agenda for business