Persons with disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean continue to face barriers to accessing health services and emergency care despite advances in laws, policies and programs, according to a press release from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The report was jointly issued on July 20, 2026 with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Inter-American Network of Persons with Disabilities and Their Families (RIADIS). It reviews experiences and challenges in ten countries across the region. The findings point to structural gaps hindering equitable access to health care and essential services, particularly during emergencies. The report calls for disability to be systematically integrated into health policies, emergency preparedness and response, information systems and service delivery.
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. Persons with disabilities are up to 45% less likely to access services for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. They are also 33% less likely to receive screening services such as HPV testing, and among people with intellectual disabilities, life expectancy can be up to 20 years shorter.
Structural challenges in health systems
The report identifies four key challenges affecting inclusion across the region. These include fragmented information systems with limited interoperability and health services organized primarily around service provision rather than people’s diverse needs. It also cites insufficient and often non-systematic training of health workers on disability inclusion. Emergency plans, meanwhile, reference disability but lack clear operational measures to ensure accessibility, continuity of care and adequate support. Territorial disparities also persist, with inclusive services concentrated in major population centers and less available in rural and remote areas.
Voices from the region
“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. Daniela González of ECLAC noted that legal advances do not always translate into everyday experiences when accessing health services. Juan Ángel de Gouveia, President of RIADIS, described the report as “historic for the region because it reflects the voices of persons with disabilities and puts forward concrete solutions to advance genuine inclusion in health.”
The findings were discussed during a regional event on disability inclusion convened by PAHO, ECLAC and RIADIS. Officials stressed the need to move from policy commitments to measurable implementation.
A roadmap for stronger inclusion
The report outlines a roadmap for advancing disability inclusion in health systems. Key recommendations include mainstreaming disability across health policies and plans and strengthening information systems through accessible and disaggregated data. It also calls for reasonable accommodations in health services and permanent mechanisms for the participation of organizations of persons with disabilities. The document highlights the need to integrate disability into emergency preparedness, response and recovery, including ensuring continued access to medicines, rehabilitation services and assistive technologies during crises. For PAHO and ECLAC, advancing inclusion is essential to building resilient health systems capable of addressing population ageing, chronic diseases and the increasing frequency of emergencies.
