Disability Inclusion in Health Systems and Emergency Management in Latin America and the Caribbean

Description

This technical report demonstrates that, while Latin America and the Caribbean has made progress regarding regulatory frameworks, registries, and certain institutional initiatives aimed at including persons with disabilities in health and emergency management, structural gaps persist that limit the effective exercise of the right to health. The primary conclusion is that inclusion still relies more on ad hoc efforts than on sustained, integrated, and rights-centered systems.

The report highlights four critical challenges: fragmented and poorly interoperable data; health services that remain organized around supply rather than diverse needs; staff capacities that are not institutionalized; and an emergency response that remains generic, with limited adaptation to ensure accessibility, continuity of care, and differentiated support. It also underscores that, while the participation of organizations of persons with disabilities does exist, it remains predominantly consultative in nature and lacks consistent influence on decision-making.

Based on this evidence, the report proposes a clear roadmap: mainstream disability across policies, plans, and protocols; strengthen disaggregated and accessible information systems; ensure reasonable accommodations and continuity of care; and consolidate permanent mechanisms for social participation and intersectoral coordination. Collectively, this publication calls for translating regulatory advancements into concrete operational changes in order to build health and emergency management systems that are more universal, resilient, and inclusive.