Access to Healthcare: is it too much to ask?

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Khalil Al Bilani is a 5th-year medical student at Saint George’s University of Beirut. He is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

As of 2025, 1 in 6 people worldwide lives with a significant disability. That’s about 1.3 billion individuals or 16% of the global population. Although Health is a universal right, healthcare systems worldwide are still not prepared to fully accommodate this large population. Notably, WHO data shows that individuals with disabilities have double the risk of comorbidities and chronic diseases compared to the general population. This raises the question of why, in the 21st century, healthcare systems are still unable to provide adequate care to individuals with disabilities. In this article, we will explore the healthcare barriers faced by those individuals, as well as propose solutions for better inclusion.

The barriers faced by individuals with disabilities come in the form of a spectrum. They range from physical obstacles to human-related ones. Many Frameworks, from organizations such as CDC and WHO, have identified three main categories of barriers: physical, attitudinal, and communication. Let’s start by addressing physical barriers, many of the healthcare facilities are not disability-friendly. Stairs without ramps, narrow doorways, and unadjustable examination tables are just the tip of the iceberg. All of these make the hospital visit quite a daunting experience for anyone with a disability. Now we turn to attitudinal barriers, which are unspoken but profoundly impactful. Attitudinal barriers are the negative stigmas, stereotypes, and biases that care providers might have towards people living with a disability. This usually leads to exclusion and inadequate careful consideration of these individuals needs. For instance, a physician might skip screenings for a patient with a disability due to attitudinal bias. This bias led the care provider to see the patient as helpless, unable to benefit from these interventions. Last but not least, barriers to communication seems to be quite an obstacle to quality care. An important factor influencing this is the lack of sign language interpreters in healthcare facilities for people that are hard of hearing and the absence of disability-related training in medical curriculum.

It is important to note that the road towards finding a solution for all the listed barriers is quite a rocky one. It will require from us not only to adjust physical obstacles but also to remodel our way of thinking of and addressing disability in general. Building better disability-friendly healthcare facilities can only be the start. Ultimately, a change in the medical curriculum is necessary to provide adequate disability-related training as part of the formation of a physician. This change will be the catalyst to eliminate attitudinal and communication barriers leading to better inclusion. As a National Officer on Medical Education, an attempt to be part of the change is my coordination of “History Taking Beyond Words”. This initiative aims to teach medical students sign language needed to take a comprehensive history from patients that are hard for hearing.

Overall, The way towards inclusion is challenging, but through persistent advocacy and systemic reform, this could easily become an achievable reality.

About the author

Khalil Al Bilani is a 5th-year medical student at Saint George’s University of Beirut. Currently serving as the National Officer on Medical Education in LeMSIC Lebanon, he plays an active role in shaping medical education. With a deep passion for the field, Khalil is dedicated to enhancing the learning experience for future medical professionals. His commitment to both academia and medical education continues to inspire his peers and contribute to the growth of the medical community.