Handicap International
Humanity & Inclusion has released a new factsheet “Accessing Rehabilitation Services: A Challenge To Overcome”, which aims at making the case for rehabilitation in the context of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The fact sheet builds on the main findings emerging from comparative studies on the financial accessibility of rehabilitation services in 9 low and middle income countries that have been carried out by Humanity & Inclusion, and which contain recommendations to guide effective actions that can improve access to rehabilitation for everyone.
Rehabilitation is a core health strategy, alongside promotion, prevention, treatment, and palliative care. Rehabilitation aims to enable persons who experience, or are likely to experience, disability to reach and maintain their optimal “everyday functioning”. Rehabilitation is critical for individuals who are experiencing musculoskeletal conditions which result in pain and disability. Due to demographic change, including an ageing population, increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases and injuries, the need for rehabilitation is increasing worldwide.
However, rehabilitation services are often under- resourced, undeveloped, and excluded from financial protection mechanisms, in particular in low and middle-income countries. Financial barriers remain key reasons for not seeking or receiving rehabilitation, for many people. Persons with disabilities, are at higher risk of being left behind, facing a 50% higher risk of incurring catastrophic healthcare costs.
“In 6 out of the 9 examined countries rehabilitation services represent catastrophic health expenditure. This is due not only to high fees for rehabilitation sessions, but also to additional costs related to the travel and stay in the area where rehabilitation services are provided” Valentina Pomatto, Humanity & Inclusion.
Costs should not be a barrier to access an essential health service including rehabilitation. The UN Political Declaration on UHC, adopted in September 2019, reaffirms that universal health coverage applies to essential health services across promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care. As countries work towards achieving universal health coverage, it is important to ensure that everyone receives, without financial hardships, effective and quality health services according to their needs, including rehabilitation services and assistive products.
“Increasing rehabilitation personnel in health care across geographies and placing rehabilitation personnel in primary health care are ways to tackle accessibility and affordability issues”, says Pauline Kleinitz, World Health Organisation.
https://blog.hi.org/alert-new-factsheet-making-the-case-for-rehabilitation-in-uhc/
