Washington, D.C., July 20, 2026 (PAHO) — Despite progress in laws, policies and programs aimed at advancing the rights of persons with disabilities across Latin America and the Caribbean, many continue to face barriers to accessing health services and emergency care on an equal basis with others, according to a new report 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, Disability inclusion in health systems and emergency management in Latin America and the Caribbean, reviews experiences and challenges in ten countries across the region and finds that structural gaps continue to hinder equitable access to health care and essential services, particularly during emergencies.
To address these challenges, it calls for disability to be systematically integrated into health policies, emergency preparedness and response, information systems and service delivery.
Global and regional gaps persist
Globally, an estimated 16% 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% less likely to access services for cardiovascular disease and diabetes and 33% 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.
These findings were discussed during a regional event on disability inclusion in health systems and emergency management convened by PAHO, ECLAC and RIADIS.
"The challenge is to translate policy advances into tangible improvements in people's lives," said Gustavo Pérez Reina, PAHO Regional Advisor on Disability and Rehabilitation. "Inclusion is not only about the availability of services. It is also about how those services are organized, communicated and adapted to meet people's needs."
Structural challenges in health systems
The report identifies four key challenges: fragmented information systems with limited interoperability; health services that continue to be organized 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.
Geographic disparities and barriers to care
The report also points to significant territorial disparities. While progress has been made in some urban settings, inclusive services tend to be concentrated in major population centers and are less available in rural and remote areas, widening inequalities in access to care.
"Many countries have made important advances in legal and policy frameworks, but these gains do not always translate into the everyday experience of persons with disabilities when accessing health services," said Daniela González of ECLAC. "The challenge is to move from policy to implementation and ensure services that are truly accessible and continuous throughout the life course."
Emergencies expose and deepen inequalities
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.
"This report is historic for the region because it reflects the voices of persons with disabilities and puts forward concrete solutions to advance genuine inclusion in health," said Juan Ángel de Gouveia, President of RIADIS. "The goal is not only to recognize rights, but to ensure they are upheld in practice."
A roadmap for stronger inclusion
Based on its findings, the report outlines a roadmap for advancing disability inclusion in health systems. 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 organizations 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.
For PAHO and ECLAC, advancing the inclusion of persons with disabilities is not only a human rights imperative but also essential to building more resilient health systems capable of addressing population ageing, the growing burden of chronic diseases and the increasing frequency of emergencies and disasters.
Links
