Disability-Inclusive Healthcare: Breaking Barriers to Equity

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Mechoiteu Jijou Berny is a seventh-year medical student at Université des Montagnes in Bangangté, West Region of Cameroon. She 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.

In 2021, an estimated 1.3 billion people that is 16% of the global population live with significant disabilities, including approximately 142 million with severe impairments[1]. Disabilities may be physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory, and when compounded by societal barriers such as stigma, inaccessible environments, and systemic exclusion, these conditions restrict individuals’ full participation in society. Yet people with disabilities are complete persons with inherent dignity and equal rights, including the right to accessible, high-quality, and responsive healthcare. Despite this, they remain among the most marginalized and stigmatized groups within health systems worldwide[2,3].

Access to healthcare is fundamental to the performance of health systems, but for people with disabilities it remains fraught with challenges. Discrimination, physical inaccessibility, and the lack of accessible information are persistent obstacles. Policy gaps further exacerbate exclusion, as many countries lack disability-inclusive frameworks guiding health system design. Globally, evidence on effective strategies to promote inclusion remains scarce, leaving many patients underserved[1].

The consequences of exclusion are profound. People with disabilities experience poorer health outcomes and higher mortality rates compared to those without disabilities. Research shows that disability is associated with nearly twice the risk of developing additional health conditions, including stroke, diabetes, depression, obesity, asthma, and poor oral health[3,4]. According to the Lancet Public Health, people with disabilities face a median reduction in life expectancy of 13.8 years, rising to 23.1 years in low-income countries[3]. These disparities are not inevitable consequences of disability itself, but rather the result of avoidable conditions such as stigma, poverty, discrimination, and systemic barriers within health systems. Tackling these determinants is essential to closing the life-expectancy gap.

Today, one in six people worldwide lives with a disability[3]. This demographic faces heightened risks of health inequity, social exclusion, limited access to education and employment, and systemic neglect. Inclusive healthcare is therefore not only a moral imperative but also a public health priority.

Transformative change requires a multi-dimensional approach. Meeting unique care needs with dignity and respect must be embedded into everyday operations. Partnering with communities ensures that care pathways reflect lived experiences and improve outcomes. Embedding support into health systems through accessible infrastructure, adaptive technologies, and inclusive digital platforms is essential. Policy reform is equally critical, integrating disability inclusion into national health strategies and universal health coverage frameworks. Hospitals and health systems, such as those highlighted by the American Hospital Association, have demonstrated that co-designed solutions with disability advocates can reduce disparities and improve patient outcomes [5].

The evidence is clear: People with disabilities experience higher health risks, shorter life expectancy, and systemic exclusion from care. These inequities stem from structural barriers, not disability itself, and must be dismantled. Inclusive healthcare is not a matter of compliance or charity; it is a fundamental human right, requiring accessibility, policy reform, and active involvement of disabled people in decision-making to achieve equity and ensure no one is left behind.

REFERENCES

1. World Health Organization. Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2022 [cited 2025 Dec 23]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240063600  

2. Bailie J, Fortune N, Plunkett K, Gordon J, Llewellyn G. A call to action for more disability-inclusive health policy and systems research. BMJ Glob Health [Internet]. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; 2023 [cited 2025 Dec 21]; 8:e011561. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011561  

3. Disability inclusivity: time to step up. Lancet Public Health [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 24]; 9(4):e251. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667 (24)00078-1/fulltext  

4. Umucu E, Vernon AA, Pan D, Qin S, Solis G, Campa R, et al. Health inequities among persons with disabilities: a global scoping review. Front Public Health [Internet]. Frontiers; 2025 [cited 2025 Dec 21]; 13:1538519. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1538519  

5. American Hospital Association. Improving care for people with disabilities [Internet]. Chicago: AHA; 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 21]. Available from: https://www.aha.org/improving-care-for-people-with-disabilities  

About the author

Mechoiteu Jijou Berny is a seventh-year medical student at Université des Montagnes in Bangangté, West Region of Cameroon. She has previously served as a Local Officer and later as Developmental Assistant for the Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, including HIV/AIDS. Her academic and professional interests center on global health and research, with a strong commitment to advancing equity in healthcare. Berny is an advocate of the One Health concept, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, and is actively engaged in humanitarian initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes in underserved communities.