Global Report on Health Equity for Disables

• 05 Dec 2022

For Prelims: WHO, Persons with Disabilities, Chronic Illnesses.

For Mains: Issues Related to Persons with Disability in India, Initiatives to Empowerment of Disables.

Why in News?

Ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3^rd December), the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report titled- Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities.

What are the Findings of the Report?

• Statistics related to Disabilities:
  • Currently, some 1.3 billion people, or one in six, worldwide suffer from major disabilities.
  • Because of the systemic and persistent health inequities, many persons with disabilities face the risk of dying much earlier—even up to 20 years earlier—than persons without disabilities.
  • An estimated 80 % of people with disabilities reside in low- and middle-income countries with limited resources, making it difficult to address these inequities.
• Risk of Disabilities:
  • They are at a two-fold risk of contracting chronic illnesses like asthma, depression, diabetes, obesity, dental disorders and stroke.
  • Many of the discrepancies in health outcomes cannot be attributed to underlying health conditions but rather to preventable, unfair and unjust circumstances.
• Some Factors for Inequity in Healthcare:
  • Hostile attitudes of healthcare providers
  • Non-comprehensible health information formats
  • Physical barriers, lack of transportation, or financial constraints that prevent access to a health center.

What are the Recommendations?

• It is crucial to ensure that people with disabilities participate fully and effectively in all facets of society and to instil inclusion, accessibility and non-discrimination in the medical field.
• Health systems should be alleviating the challenges that people with disabilities face, not adding to them.
• Ensuring health equity for persons with disabilities will also have wider benefits and can advance global health priorities in 3 ways:
  • Health equity for all is critical towards achieving universal health coverage;
  • Inclusive public health interventions that are administered equitably across different sectors can contribute to healthier populations; and
  • Advancing health equity for persons with disabilities is a central component in all efforts to protect everyone in health emergencies.
• Governments, health partners and civil society should ensure all health sector actions are inclusive of persons with disabilities so that they can enjoy their right to the highest standard of health.

What are the Initiatives to Empowerment of Disables?

• India:
  • Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016
  • Unique Disability Identification Portal
  • Accessible India Campaign
  • DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme
  • Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting of Aids and Appliances
  • National Fellowship for Students with Disabilities
• Global:
  • Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific.
  • United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability.
  • International Day of Persons with Disabilities
  • UN Principles for People with Disabilities

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

Q. India is home to lakhs of persons with disabilities. What are the benefits available to them under the law? (2011)

1. Free schooling till the age of 18 years in governmentrun schools.
2. Preferential allotment of land for setting up business.
3. Ramps in public buildings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (d)

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Mains

Q. Does the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 ensure effective mechanism for empowerment and inclusion of the intended beneficiaries in the society? Discuss. (2017)

Source: DTE