Social, Economic, and Health Challenges in Responding to Aging Population in South Asia: An Experience from Bhutan

Southeast Asia Region is expected to experience a significant increase in its ageing population, with the proportion of people age ≥ 65 years projected to reach 13.7% by 2030 and 20.3% by 2050. In Bhutan, which has a population of 681,720, the proportion of adults aged > 60 years has increased from 7.0% in 2005 to 8.8% in 2017 and is projected to increase to 19.7% in 2047. Bhutan has always prioritized the well-being of all its citizens through the principles of Gross National Happiness, however older adults increasingly face challenges such as poorer health, higher poverty rates, and limited social security. This demographic shift, combined with an increasing old age dependence ratio and emigration of young adults abroad underscores the urgent need to reorient strategic socio-economic and health policies. To promote healthy ageing and create enabling conditions for the pursuit of happiness, we recommend the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan for the care of older adults. The healthcare system should put in place relevant infrastructure and human resources to address the physical and emotional needs, while religious organizations may be actively engaged in providing spiritual needs to the older adults. In this article, we summarize key population parameters on the nature of demographic shift and healthcare policies relating to the care of older adults in Bhutan.