New Guidelines to Improve Healthcare Access for Persons with Disabilities Call for Action Within and Beyond Health Systems

New Guidelines to Improve Healthcare Access for Persons with Disabilities Call for Action Within and Beyond Health Systems

On 15 April, the European Commission published “Guidelines on how to increase access and overcome barriers in access to healthcare for persons with disabilities”. These guidelines, developed with national authorities and disability organisations, aim to shape future EU and national actions, drive policy and legal reforms, and improve fair access to healthcare across the EU.

The guidelines build on past EU commitments, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the European Disability Strategy 2010–2020, which helped advance disability rights but fell short in prioritising healthcare accessibility. Addressing this gap is a key objective of the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021–2030, which explicitly commits to ensuring equal and sustainable access to healthcare. 

While healthcare organisation remains a national responsibility, the European Commission supports Member States through a variety of funding instruments. The EC stresses that implementing the guidelines requires cross‑sector action beyond health systems alone, including disability assessment processes, transport and digital accessibility, human rights protections and capacity‑building for organisations of persons with disabilities.

Press release on the publication of the “Guidelines on how to increase access and overcome barriers in access to healthcare for persons with disabilities” available here.

“Guidelines on how to increase access and overcome barriers in access to healthcare for persons with disabilities” available here.