Why health equity for Persons with disabilities matters

On Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2023, global partners and communities are marking the campaign under the overall theme of “Health For All: Time for action”. On UHC Day, WHO calls on governments to urgently invest in the resilience of health systems to drive progress towards UHC and deliver health for all in a turbulent world. It’s time for action!

Why health equity for Persons with Disabilities matters 

An estimated 1.3 billion people – or 16% of global population worldwide – experience a significant disability today. Persons with disabilities have the right to the highest attainable standard of health as those without disabilities. However, the WHO Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities demonstrates that while some progress has been made in recent years, the world is still far from realizing this right for many persons with disabilities who continue to die earlier, have poorer health, and experience more limitations in everyday functioning than others. These poor health outcomes are due to unfair conditions faced by persons with disabilities in all facets of life, including in the health system itself. Countries have an obligation under international human rights law to address the health inequities faced by persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the Sustainable Development Goals and global health priorities will not progress without ensuring health for all.

Check out the powerful Make Way infographic attached that summarizes perfectly why health equity matters for persons with disabilities. The infographic is a summary of the global report by WHO on Health inequities for Persons with Disabilities.

Let’s break barriers, promote inclusion, and ensure everyone has access to quality healthcare!