Trend Trend M: Threats to sustainable health systems

Summary

External threats such as emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance are becoming constant. At the same time ageing and the spread of chronic illness are rapidly raising the burden of non-communicable diseases, and threats to mental health are multiplying. Together these raise concern about citizens' healthy lives and the sustainability of health care systems. The trend groups issues on persistent infectious disease threats, the growing social burden of non-communicable diseases and rising threats to mental health. In the issue network, mental health was among the ten most connected issues, and health and welfare issues were found to be mostly on the receiving end of influence from other issues.