WASHINGTON,United States (CMC) — A new report has found that despite progress in laws, policies and programmes aimed at advancing the rights of persons with disabilities across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), many continue to face barriers to accessing health services and emergency care on an equal basis.

The new report has been released by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Inter-American Network of Persons with Disabilities and Their Families (RIADIS).

The report titled “Disability inclusion in health systems and emergency management in Latin America and the Caribbean” reviews experiences and challenges in 10 countries across the region and finds that structural gaps continue to hinder equitable access to health care and essential services, particularly during emergencies.

Globally, an estimated 16 per cent of the population lives with a disability, according to the World Health Organization’s global report on health equity for persons with disabilities.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, persons with disabilities experience higher levels of poverty, social exclusion and barriers to accessing essential services, including health care. These disparities often become even more pronounced during crises and emergencies.

The findings also highlight the scale of health inequities. Persons with disabilities are up to 45 per cent less likely to access services for cardiovascular disease and diabetes and 33 per cent less likely to receive screening services such as HPV testing.

In some cases, including among people with intellectual disabilities, life expectancy can be up to 20 years shorter.

The report identifies four key challenges: fragmented information systems with limited interoperability; health services that continue to be organised primarily around service provision rather than people’s diverse needs; insufficient and often non-systematic training of health workers on disability inclusion; and emergency plans that reference disability but lack clear operational measures to ensure accessibility, continuity of care and adequate support.

The report also points to significant territorial disparities. It notes that while progress has been made in some urban settings, inclusive services tend to be concentrated in major population centres and are less available in rural and remote areas, widening inequalities in access to care.

The report notes that disparities become particularly evident during emergencies and disasters, when barriers to services, information and support can interrupt treatment and increase health risks for persons with disabilities.

Based on its findings, the report outlines a roadmap for advancing disability inclusion in health systems. The key recommendations include mainstreaming disability across health policies and plans, strengthening information systems through accessible and disaggregated data, ensuring reasonable accommodations in health services and establishing permanent mechanisms for the participation of organisations of persons with disabilities.

The report also underscores the need to fully integrate disability into emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts, including measures to ensure continued access to medicines, rehabilitation services and assistive technologies during crises.