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Global Coalition On Alliance for Health Innovation Brings Patient, Policy, Academic, Industry & Global Health Stakeholders Together to Drive Solutions that Support a Thriving Innovation Sector & Healthy Aging
November 8, 2022 (New York, NY) – Today, the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA), along with cross-sector stakeholders representing patient advocacy, policy, industry, and academic communities, announced the launch of the Alliance for Health Innovation at the High-Level Forum on the Silver Economy in New York. The Alliance is dedicated to establishing the importance of innovation in achieving healthy aging and health equity through investments, policy reforms, and strategic partnerships. GCOA announced the Alliance during a panel discussion at the High-Level Forum featuring patient advocacy organizations, HIV and healthcare equity organizations, biopharmaceutical companies, and more.
“GCOA is committed to bringing stakeholders from across the global health spectrum together to advance innovation that benefits all populations, which requires a broad array of partnerships and communities to confront the complex health challenges that come with population aging,” said Michael Hodin, CEO of the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) and convener of the Alliance for Health Innovation. “The Alliance will play a central role in advocating for policy reforms and solutions that enable the robust and thriving innovation sector to support healthy aging, advance health equity, and ensure that people can live healthier and longer lives.”
With the next decade defined by healthy aging, the Alliance is focused on advancing policies that reimagine and reshape aging in the 21st century. Policy priorities of the Alliance include:
- Spending on Health Innovation as an Investment
- Re-imagine 21st Century Aging and Health Needs
- Ensure an Access Framework is Judged by Health Equity Metrics Based on Innovation
- Emphasize the Role of Care Delivery to All Societies
- Encourage Strong Intellectual Property Protections
“Innovation drives the development, advancement, and discovery of medical products, treatments, and technologies necessary to achieve health equity and support healthy aging,” said Sue Peschin, President and CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research, and a founding member. “The work of the Alliance for Health Innovation will ensure that health equity and healthy aging are front and center in conversations about the value of innovation to patients.”
Today, our world faces an urgent challenge – providing quality care to the rapidly growing population of older adults. The COVID-19 pandemic, like the HIV epidemic, highlight the seriousness of existing gaps in systems and programs. Government policies that enable patients to access the best care and most effective life-changing medicines are critically important in protecting against disparities related to aging and longevity,” said Rekha Ramesh, Vice President, Head of Global Policy at Gilead Sciences, Inc., a founding member of the Alliance. “At Gilead, it is our mission to deliver innovative therapies that positively impact outcomes for patients everywhere, and we are proud to join members of the Alliance in helping inform policy solutions to ensure those who need our therapies receive them in support of healthy aging.”
“To achieve healthy aging, we must improve patient access to innovative treatments for communicable diseases such as HIV which bear a disproportionate impact on historically underserved populations,” said Scott Bertani, Director of Advocacy at HealthHIV, a founding member of the Alliance. “This collaboration of cross-sector leaders will share new ideas to address equity, access, and affordability issues that persist in our healthcare system.”
The launch of the Alliance at this year’s High-Level Forum on the Silver Economy underscores the group’s recognition that aging populations can be drivers of productivity and wealth creation by remaining active, engaged, and working. The Alliance welcomes the perspective and engagement of stakeholders across the spectrum to support and advance solutions that drive innovation and better outcomes for aging populations.
About the Global Coalition on Aging
The Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) aims to reshape how global leaders approach and prepare for the 21st century’s profound shift in population aging. Through research, public policy analysis, advocacy and strategic communications, GCOA is advancing innovative policy and market solutions and working to ensure global aging is a path to health, productivity, and economic growth.
About the High-Level Forum on The Silver Economy
The Silver Economy Forum 2022 launches new ideas and explores unique collaborations and discoveries that impact healthy aging for older people, and everyone. SEF 2022 focuses on the policies and practices required to leverage the potential of the $17 trillion Silver Economy and the potential investment opportunities of the market.