Santiago de Chile, Aug 21 (Prensa Latina) Aging and its impact on the economy are issues analyzed today and tomorrow by the participants in the ninth High Level Meeting on Health and Economy of APEC countries.

The event, based in the southern Chilean city of Puerto Varas, is part of the set of activities of the Third Meeting of High Representatives (SOM3), which has been held since last Thursday.

This issue is becoming increasingly important in the member states of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, whose coverage will be held next November here, because by 2030, 30 percent of the population of some economies in the block will be people over 65 years.

In the dialogue, called 'Healthy Economies in an Aging World,' Chilean Health Minister Jaime Mañalich stressed the importance of addressing the issue aging due to the gigantic challenge of demographic change.

He noted this phenomenon has accelerated in Chile, so it is necessary to find opportunities for better aging and in all those policies that mean access to health care, and better quality of life for the elderly.

During the meeting, participants will discuss measures that the 21 APEC economies can apply to reduce the impact of this process on the economy, trade and security, as well as to strengthen health systems and increase their efficiency and capacity to answer.

The central objective is the aging of the region and the need to design health systems that realize this new reality.

The Health Working Group, which held meetings since August 15 and whose work will culminate in the High Level Dialogue, addressed these and other issues, including preparedness and responses to emergencies and public health disasters, including the prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases.

Senior health officials from Chile, Brunei, Taipei-China, Japan and Singapore, among others, participate in this event.