Núcleo Disca

Points of interest:

• Approximately 18% of the Chilean population has a disability. Despite having greater health needs, they face significant difficulties in accessing health services due to structural barriers in the health system.
• Twelve health policies were analyzed using an analytical framework adapted for disability, and the presence of 21 core human rights concepts was evaluated. Although 92% of the policies mention human rights concepts related to disability, only 50% show clear policy commitments.
• In addition, 15 national stakeholders were interviewed to assess perceptions on health policies.
• The 15 interviewees identified three main reasons explaining the implementation challenges of disability-related health policies:
  1. Lack of financing;
  2. Inconsistent political approach to disability;
  3. Shortage of human resources.

• It is crucial to improve both the design and implementation of disability-inclusive health policies to guarantee the right to health for people with disabilities and to comply with the human rights principles that should guide inclusive public health policy.

Notes:

• The following summary was prepared by Núcleo Milenio DISCA and is based exclusively on the original publication. Therefore, it should not be used for citations or references.
• This article was published in English.

Rodríguez Gatta D, Rotenberg S, Allel K, Reichenberger V, Banks LM, Kuper H (2024). Inclusion of people with disabilities in Chilean health policy: a policy analysis. International Journal for Equality in Health, 23(174). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02259-4