Policy Brief

Overview

Worldwide, an estimated 2.6 billion people experience health conditions that could benefit from rehabilitation. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the number one cause of mortality and impairments worldwide, accounting for a substantial proportion of the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost. The demand for rehabilitation is expected to rise due to the increasing prevalence of NCDs and other health conditions, as well as an ageing population who often require rehabilitative interventions to improve functioning, mobility and overall quality of life. Rehabilitation is a set of interventions designed to optimize functioning in individuals with health conditions or impairments in interaction with their environment.