Inclusive Healthcare Fails When We Design for the “Average Patient”

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Samaya Rahimova , a public health student at the Azerbaijan Medical University and an active member of SCOPH at Azermeds. 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.

Healthcare systems like to present themselves as inclusive. Ramps are installed, guidelines are updated, and policies proudly mention accessibility. Yet for many disabled patients, the problem does not start at the hospital entrance. It starts much earlier — with the idea that healthcare can be designed for an “average patient.”

The concept of the average patient is convenient. It simplifies systems, shortens protocols, and makes education easier. But it also quietly excludes anyone whose body, communication style, or daily reality does not fit that imagined norm. Disabled patients are often expected to adapt to healthcare systems, rather than systems adapting to them.

When this happens, inclusion becomes a checkbox instead of a lived experience.

Accessibility is frequently reduced to physical access. While this is important, it is far from sufficient. A clinic may be physically accessible yet remain functionally inaccessible due to rigid appointment systems, time-pressured consultations, or a lack of appropriate communication methods. For patients with sensory sensitivities, cognitive disabilities, chronic pain, or fatigue, these barriers are not minor inconveniences — they directly affect the quality and safety of care.

These issues are not the result of individual neglect alone. They are structural. Medical education often reinforces the idea of a “standard” patient presentation, teaching future healthcare professionals to recognize patterns rather than people. When disability is discussed, it is frequently framed as a complication instead of a normal part of human diversity. As a result, many professionals enter clinical practice without the skills or confidence to provide respectful, adaptable care to disabled patients.

The consequences are serious. Delayed diagnoses, miscommunication, and loss of trust in healthcare systems are common outcomes. Some patients avoid seeking care altogether after repeated negative experiences, increasing health risks that could have been prevented. In this way, inaccessibility does not only harm individuals — it places additional strain on healthcare systems through preventable complications and higher long-term costs.

True inclusive healthcare requires a shift in perspective. Instead of asking how disabled patients can fit into existing systems, we must ask how systems can be redesigned to reflect real human diversity. Flexibility, patient-centered communication, and meaningful involvement of disabled voices in policy and service design are not optional additions; they are essential components of quality care.

Inclusion is not achieved by designing for the average and accommodating the rest. There is no average patient. There are only individuals with different needs, capacities, and experiences. Healthcare systems that acknowledge this reality move closer to equity — not through charity, but through responsibility.

About the author

Samaya Rahimova  is a public health student at the Azerbaijan Medical University and an active member of SCOPH at Azermeds. She takes part in community health initiatives and youth-driven awareness projects, with a particular interest in health equity, infectious diseases and the rights of patients from vulnerable groups. Her work often focuses on how social and structural factors shape health outcomes. Samaya  hopes to continue her academic and professional development in Europe. Beyond her studies, she enjoys writing, volunteering and exploring topics at the intersection of medicine and social justice.