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TopEip On Aha
The EIP pilot on Active & Healthy Ageing (AHA), launched in May 2011, was the first case that a wide group of stakeholders came together to develop such a Partnership. The European Commission, acting as a facilitator and coordinator, provided organizational and operational support as well as chaired the Steering Group through two Commissioners; for Health and Consumers and Digital Agenda (EIP on AHA, 2011).
The overarching target of EIP on AHA is to increase the average healthy lifespan by two years by 2020 and pursue a triple in for Europe:
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Improving the health status and quality of life of European citizens, with a particular focus on older people;
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Supporting the long-term sustainability and efficiency of health and social care systems;
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Enhancing the competitiveness of the markets for innovative products and services, responding to the ageing challenge at both EU and global level, thus creating new opportunities for businesses (EIP on AHA, 2011).
The strategy of the EIP on AHA initiative was based on a positive vision on ageing around three core areas: prevention & early diagnosis, care and cure, ageing and independent living, and a focus on six concrete actions groups. Moreover, horizontal actions have been identified that address framework conditions and promote connections between the different priority areas of work.
In February 2012, the Commission launched the first call for the involvement of stakeholders beyond those that participated in the Steering Group to implement together the priorities and actions identified in the SIP. The second Invitation for Commitment to contribute to the Action Plans opened on 20 December 2012 and closed on 15 February 2013.
The six Action Groups that were formed developed their Action Plans, which were presented at the Conference of Partners of 6th November 2012. Since spring 2012 almost 600 commitments have been submitted by groups of stakeholders bringing together public authorities, technology companies, health providers, industry, and non–governmental organizations. The EIP on AHA is now in its implementation stage with more than 3,000 partners involved (300 leading organizations are actively forming coalitions and consortia, covering stakeholders from 11 EU Member States, representing approximately 1,000 regions and municipalities (EIP on AHA, 2015a).