"Health Span Matters More Than Longevity"... Medical Technology and Industry Strategies for Aging Solutions

Hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare: "World Bio Summit 2025"

"The key is not simply longevity, but the extension of a dignified health span."

Panelists are engaged in a discussion on the theme of "Aging & Medical Technology" during the second session of the "World Bio Summit 2025," jointly hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 17th at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jeong Donghoon

At the "World Bio Summit 2025," jointly hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO) on September 17 at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, medical technology and policy solutions to address the challenges of a super-aged society were intensively discussed. In the second session, themed "Aging & Medical Technology," experts and industry representatives from Denmark, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea explored a wide range of topics, including medical technology innovation, Age-Tech such as robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), welfare policies for the elderly, and strategies to vitalize the industry.

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Maas Friborg, Health Counselor at the Embassy of Denmark in Korea, shared Denmark's experience with elderly care reform. He emphasized, "Denmark values the independence and dignity of the elderly within a tax-based public funding system," noting that over the past decade, the rate of admission to nursing facilities has declined while home-based care has expanded.

The Danish parliament passed the "Elderly Care Reform" last year, shifting the care paradigm from "document management and micro-level criteria" to "value- and goal-oriented, team-based care." In particular, Denmark is fostering robotics technology as a national strategy to reduce the workload of nursing staff and improve efficiency. He stated, "The key is to simultaneously address data security and standardization issues while expanding choice and autonomy."

Lee Donghee, Director at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade, discussed the philosophical and social changes that technological advancement will bring. He said, "By 2045, the development of Age-Tech, including AI and medical technology, could lead to a singularity where humans transcend biological limits. We need to consider how to transform the outcomes of Age-Tech into products and services that advance markets and industries." Age-Tech is a portmanteau of "aging" and "technology," referring to products and services that utilize advanced technologies such as AI, the Internet of Things, and robotics to support healthy and independent lives for the elderly.

Lee pointed out, "The baby boomer generation in South Korea holds significant assets, but most are tied up in real estate. The lack of disposable income among the elderly could hinder the spread of Age-Tech." He suggested that it is necessary to overcome the limitations of existing systems such as reverse mortgages and to enhance the elderly's spending power through innovative financial models, including blockchain-based asset securitization. He further emphasized, "We need to move away from the current supplier-centered development, which is driven by government R&D and public procurement, and shift toward demand-driven development with direct participation from the elderly."

Global Industry: "Fragmented Technologies Need an Integrated Ecosystem"

The CEO of Zenko Motors Academy in Singapore highlighted the limitations of aging-related technologies from an industry perspective. He noted, "The technologies currently used in clinical settings are fragmented and disconnected, much like assembling a PC from separate parts. We need to build an integrated 'Rehab Relation 4.0' ecosystem."

He emphasized that sustainable systems can only be created through the cooperation of five key stakeholders: patients, caregivers, medical staff, scientists, industry, and policymakers. He also stressed the importance of data-driven personalized care, stating, "If AI-based personalized, predictive, and preventive '3P medicine' becomes a reality, it will fundamentally reduce aging and functional decline."

Yoon Hyunju, Senior Social Development Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), shared the potential of AI utilization through a case study in China. The ADB has introduced AI-based nurse education and case management tools in Nanning, Guangxi Province, China, and is applying them in the field. She explained, "Most nurses are women, mothers, and family caregivers, so it is difficult for them to engage in prolonged study at a desk. Through AI-based interactive training tools, nurses can easily learn and consult while on the move."

The ADB is operating an elderly care project in China worth approximately 500 million USD (about 688.8 billion KRW), and is taking a comprehensive approach that includes urban redesign and strengthening nurse competencies. Yoon urged collaboration among international organizations, governments, and industry, stating, "Technology must be provided in an accessible and affordable way for vulnerable groups."

Choi Jaeyeon, CEO of Gilead Sciences Korea, presented the industry's perspective on the direction of medical innovation. He stated, "In the era of aging, the focus should not simply be on prolonging life, but on cure, prevention, and improving quality of life." Gilead has demonstrated the effect of reducing social costs by distributing treatments such as its hepatitis C therapy, which achieves cure rates of over 95 percent. Choi emphasized, "Curative therapies are not only beneficial to individual patients but also serve as solutions for maintaining sound national finances." He added, "In the field of dementia, AI- and big data-based personalized treatments are underway, and I look forward to the day when dementia will be called a 'disease of the past.' I urge the government to implement rapid regulatory improvements to keep pace with innovation."

Summarizing the discussion, Lee Yunhwan, President of the Korean Gerontological Society, said, "Health span, rather than mere longevity, is the key. To achieve this, a multidisciplinary approach involving academia, industry, government, and international organizations is essential. While there are obstacles in the diffusion and commercialization of technology, with cooperation and institutional improvements, it is possible to realize a dignified old age."