Elena S. Rotarou
Summary of chapter:
People with disabilities are among the most disadvantaged social groups, as they experience higher levels of poverty, lower literacy rates, higher unemployment rates, multiple discrimination, and more barriers to accessing health services, compared to the general population.
In the current pandemic context, people with disabilities are disproportionately affected due to environmental, institutional, and information access barriers, which are exacerbated by the measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures to combat the pandemic have intensified health inequities and created new vulnerabilities for this population group.
This chapter focuses on the principles of non-discrimination, inclusivity, continuity, relevance, and equity in both health reforms and public policies related to this area, from a disability perspective. The case of Chile is used to investigate whether these reforms and policies promote equitable access to and use of health services for people with disabilities, and how they are implemented. This topic is particularly important given that the country is in the process of amending its constitution, including the articles concerning the health system.
While people with disabilities are often overlooked in research on access to health, it is imperative to promote inclusive health policies in order to reduce the vulnerability index of this group, especially in a scenario of economic instability and health emergencies.
Notes:
Rotarou, E. S. (2024). Health care reforms and policies from a disability-rights perspective. En Ned, L., Rivas Velarde, M., Singh, S., Swartz, L., & Soldatić, K. (Eds.). The Routledge International Handbook of Disability and Global Health (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003228059
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003228059