New WHO/Europe resource showcases proven practices to advance disability-inclusive health across the Region

A new WHO/Europe resource launched on this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December) highlights concrete real-world examples of how countries across the European Region are working to close persistent health gaps faced by the more than 135 million people with disabilities living in Europe and central Asia.

The report, “Good practices on disability-inclusive health”, showcases diverse approaches, from national legislative reforms to local service innovations, that show how health systems can embed disability inclusion into everyday care provision and public health programming.

Despite important progress in many countries, people with disabilities continue to face stark and preventable inequities, including dying on average up to 20 years earlier than people without disabilities. The new resource shows how governments, health providers and organizations of persons with disabilities are working together to change this reality.

“Across all case studies, the message is clear: disability inclusive health cannot be treated as a segregated project,” said Shirin Kiani, WHO/Europe’s Technical Officer for Disability, Assistive Technology, Rehabilitation, and Ear and Eye Care. “When countries take a health systems approach – backed by sustained financing and clear governance structures in partnership with organizations of people with disabilities – improvements are durable and transformative.”

Innovative practices making a difference

The report draws on case studies from across the WHO European Region, including:

• real-time sign language interpretation services in Azerbaijan, enabling seamless communication between deaf people and health workers;
• tailored breast cancer outreach and screening for women with intellectual disabilities in Ireland, helping address long-standing barriers to early detection;
• inclusive sports and physical activity programmes in Turkmenistan, supporting health, participation and community inclusion; and
• disability-inclusive emergency preparedness in Iceland, ensuring people with disabilities are protected and supported during crises.

These examples are aligned with the shared strategic principles of “The WHO European Framework for action to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities”, endorsed by all 53 Member States of the Region at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe. At their core, these principles are: rights-based approaches, coproduction with organizations of people with disabilities, and integration across health, social protection, education and community services.

Key recommendations for Member States

The report provides concrete guidance to help countries make lasting progress, including by:

• embedding disability inclusion into mainstream health systems, national benefit packages and provider contracting – ensuring inclusion is financed and sustained over time;
• institutionalizing shared governance by giving organizations of people with disabilities formal roles in decision-making, monitoring and evaluation;
• investing in disability competencies across the health and care workforce through education, licensing and continuing professional development;
• strengthening disability-disaggregated data systems to identify inequities and measure progress;
• coordinating policies beyond the health sector, recognizing that inclusion requires whole-of-government planning;
• ensuring disability-inclusive emergency preparedness, continuity-of-care systems and recovery planning; and
• allocating dedicated funding streams for disability inclusion in all health programmes.

Forward together: championing disability inclusion in health​ systems

The findings underscore that raising awareness of the health gaps of persons with disabilities is not enough. Infrastructure upgrades, while important, do not lead to sustained change if they are not supported by strong data systems, clear accountability for accessible health systems, and inclusive service standards.