Authorities at a local level are instrumental in promoting longer, healthier lives.

In a bid to enhance the well-being of its citizens, Germany is focusing on prevention as a key strategy to improve health and extend lifespans. This shift in policy is driven by the fact that people in countries like Spain, Italy, and Switzerland live up to three years longer than Germans, while life expectancy in Germany has decreased for both men and women.

Germany spends around 12% of its GDP on healthcare, with the majority of health insurance funds going towards treating and managing illnesses. Recognising the need for a proactive approach, the government is considering the use of revenue from increased tobacco and alcohol tax to exempt healthy foods from Value Added Tax (VAT) and to finance comprehensive movement, nutrition, and vaccination programmes.

Prevention plays a central role in the coalition agreement of the new federal government. The strategy includes the implementation of the 15-minute city concept, where essential services are reachable on foot or by bike within 15 minutes. This approach aims to promote a healthier lifestyle by making it easier for citizens to access parks, sports facilities, libraries, and cultural venues.

The focus on prevention extends beyond physical health. Mental and psychological health, stress prevention, and dementia care are also crucial aspects of this strategy. Urban residents, for instance, have about 1.4 times the risk of developing depression than rural residents, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in densely populated areas.

Successful initiatives have already been implemented in cities like Rostock and regions in Oberfranken. These include mental health programmes focused on promoting healthy lifestyles and improving conditions relevant to mental well-being through community centres and psychiatric care facilities, offering prevention and rehabilitation services, accessible counselling, local meeting centres, and specialized training for staff to address mental health challenges.

Cities must also protect against heat, stress, and loneliness, which are emerging challenges in modern urban living. The future of prevention and longevity lies in precision medicine, focusing on cellular aging and prevention. A mental health strategy makes health, education, and culture easily accessible to all.

The central places for prevention are municipalities, and a shift in prevention policy requires effective tax instruments. More than two-thirds of Germans support an increase in tobacco and alcohol tax, which could provide a significant source of funding for these initiatives.

The benefits of a more preventative approach are substantial. An additional healthy year for the entire population could increase GDP by between 3% and 4%, amounting to between 130 and 170 billion euros annually for Germany. Moreover, addressing preventable health issues could reduce the number of preventable deaths each year, currently estimated at 124,000.

As Germany navigates this new preventative approach, it aims to not only extend the lifespan of its citizens but also to ensure that those extra years are spent in good health. This shift in policy is a testament to the country's commitment to the well-being of its people and a step towards a healthier, more sustainable future.

Authorities at a local level are instrumental in promoting longer, healthier lives.