We brought together members, alongside representatives from the European Commission and the World Health Organization (WHO), for a peer exchange on access to healthcare for persons with disabilities.
The exchange was an important opportunity to take stock of an evolving health policy landscape including:
- EU priorities and initiatives in health;
- The EU health study and guidelines on access for persons with disabilities;
- International initiatives promoting health equity;
- Member organisations’ engagement in health.
Key takeaways
- The health policy landscape is evolving with new opportunities and challenges to protect and promote the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities.
- EDF members and partners are active on health, advancing access and rights for persons with disabilities including those with psychosocial disabilities, Deaf and hard of hearing persons, and persons with Cerebral-Palsy.
- The EU guidelines on improving access to healthcare for persons with disabilities can support members’ advocacy, building synergies with existing EU and WHO health equity initiatives.
EU health guidelines
We warmly welcomed the EU guidelines on how to improve access and overcome barriers in access to healthcare for persons with disabilities. They were presented as a comprehensive framework to advance disability-inclusive healthcare systems, developed with strong input from persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.
We emphasised the potential for the guidelines to drive systemic change, including through improved governance, inclusive financing, and stronger involvement of persons with disabilities in health policy decision-making. At the same time, we noted challenges to implementation and encouraged the European Commission to formalise support to Member States for implementation.
The WHO complemented the discussion by presenting frameworks and tools to support governments in building disability-inclusive health systems, reinforcing the need for coordinated action at both European and national levels.
Experiences from national, European and International level
The exchange also showcased member advocacy, reflecting both shared challenges and diverse national contexts.
Members highlighted common barriers to healthcare access, including:
- Physical and communication accessibility;
- Long waiting lists;
- Disproportionate financial burdens;
- Access to medicines, assistive technology and specialists;
- Lack of disability training and awareness among healthcare professionals;
- Stigma and discrimination.
Despite persistent barriers, members also shared promising practices including:
- Establishment of disability focal points in ministries;
- Co-creation of policies and services with persons with disabilities;
- National health policy reform to align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
- Improved physical accessibility of infrastructure;
- Innovative digital solutions for navigating care pathways;
Overall, the exchange underlined the essential role of organisations of persons with disabilities in driving change through advocacy, service innovation, and policy development. It also underscored the potential to strengthen a human rights-based approach to healthcare through implementation of the EU guidelines at national level.
Resources
- EU Guidelines on how to increase access and overcome barriers in access to healthcare for persons with disabilities
- Executive Summary of the study on guidance to increase access to healthcare for people with disabilities including information on data on cancer prevention and care
- Report with the mapping and analysis on existing bottlenecks and good practices
- Country fiches
- Report on the cost-benefit analysis of more inclusive healthcare systems for people with disabilities
- Study report on people with disabilities regarding their access to screening programmes, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, barriers in accessibility and affordability of cancer care for disabled patients, in differences in quality of care they receive
More information on EDFs work on healthcare
More information about the EU health study
Contact
For further information, please contact Markaya Henderson, EDF Senior Project and Policy Officer markaya.henderson@edf-feph.org.