The World Health Organization said Egypt is among eight countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region that have started implementing integrated care guidelines for older people.
The organization said the region is witnessing a shift from disease-centered healthcare to people-centered care across all stages of life.
The other countries implementing the guidelines are Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
WHO warned that failing to address healthy aging could cost the global economy nearly $47 trillion over the next two decades.
Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Hanan Balkhy said the challenge is no longer only helping people live longer, but ensuring they live healthier lives with dignity and better quality of life.
She added that more than 1.2 billion people worldwide are now over the age of 60, while noncommunicable diseases account for nearly 75 percent of global deaths.
Balkhy said successful experiences in healthy aging rely on strong primary healthcare systems, community participation, and treating older people as active members of society.
She also stressed the importance of technology and digital healthcare in expanding access to services and improving quality of care.
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