Transforming Health Systems: Five Actions for Disability-Inclusive Healthcare

A Special Olympics Bharat (India) athlete undergoes complimentary health screening. Photo credit: Special Olympics Asia Pacific.

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Better training, lower barriers, and inclusive wellness programs are key to equitable health for people with disabilities.

Introduction

In Asia and the Pacific, nearly 700 million people live with disabilities. A World Health Organization (WHO) report noted that they experience higher rates of preventable illnesses and deaths than people without disabilities—a stark indicator of deep health inequities.

The inequality also carries a financial cost. The WHO and the United Nations Population Fund estimate that every dollar invested in disability-inclusive prevention and care for noncommunicable diseases yields nearly $10 in return.

Key Actions

As the region strives toward universal health coverage, disability inclusion must be placed at the center of health reforms. It is a matter of equity and financial imperative. This piece presents five key actions to build disability-inclusive health systems.

  1. Recognize the diversity of disabilities
    People with disabilities are not a homogeneous group. Physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities each present distinct needs and barriers to accessing healthcare. 

    A regional universal health coverage action plan must address all challenges. For example, improving physical access to health infrastructure for people with wheelchairs or limited mobility. Equally important are supports for people with Intellectual and developmental disabilities. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, for example, encompass a range of conditions that affect cognitive functioning, adaptive behaviors and physical health, requiring tailored approaches to care. 
     
  2. Acknowledge disadvantages in existing health care systems 
    Compared to the general population, people with intellectual, and developmental disabilities face significantly higher health risks—not because of their disabilities per se, but because of being overlooked by health systems. 

    Research shows that they are three to four times more likely to die of circulatory diseases and twice as likely to have diabetes than the general population. These disparities stem from being invisible in data, planning, and services. Recognizing and responding to this neglect is critical to closing the health equity gap. 
     
  3. Improve quality of care through inclusive training
    Healthcare providers often lack the skills and training to provide appropriate care for individuals with disabilities, leading to misdiagnoses, inadequate treatment plans, and overall poorer health outcomes for patients. 

    Take the case of Anna, a 32-year-old female with diabetes, a heart condition, and an intellectual disability. Due to her weak arm pulse, her blood pressure needs to be measured on her leg—a note clearly stated in her records. However, during a recent urgent care visit, a nurse skipped this check due to lack of awareness and training, compromising her care. 

    This example underscores how gaps in provider training can result in inadequate care, highlighting the urgency of systemic reform. Practice-based healthcare training programs—where students in nursing, social work, and medicine learn with standardized patients with disabilities—are proving effective in building competence and inclusive care practices. 
     
  4. Address financial and structural barriers
    The cost of healthcare can be prohibitive for many individuals with disabilities. Financial strain can prevent them from seeking necessary medical attention and adhering to prescribed treatment plans. 

    Germany offers a good example. Its Action Plan for a Diverse, Inclusive, and Barrier-Free Healthcare System—a collaboration with multiple departments, the Ministry for Social Affairs, and the Ministry for Family Affairs—addresses the interconnected nature of healthcare and the need for a united approach to overcome administrative and financial complexities. Aligning healthcare with other state services addresses the hidden barriers to care. 
     
  5. Promote preventive health and inclusive wellness
    As life expectancy rises, people with disabilities face increased risks of noncommunicable diseases. Investing in wellbeing programs and promoting physical activity are urgently needed. 

    UNESCO’s Global State of Play report highlights how inclusive physical education and sports can advance disability inclusion. In Ontario, Canada, adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics show a 15% lower risk of developing diabetes and a 49% lower risk of depression compared to non-participants. These programs pair individuals with and without disabilities, demonstrating that inclusive approaches benefit everyone.
Ensuring No One is Left Behind

Disability-inclusive universal health coverage requires more than access—it needs transformation.

The key to build health systems that leave no one behind lies in coordinated policies, multisectoral collaboration, and embedded disability inclusion at the core of universal health coverage.

Together, the five actions—recognizing diverse needs, correcting systemic neglect, training inclusive providers, removing financial barriers, and investing in wellness—form a practical roadmap toward equitable healthcare in Asia and the Pacific.

Note: Disability inclusion is part of the discussions during ADB's 1st INSPIRE Health Forum: Inclusive, Sustainable, Prosperous and Resilient (INSPIRE) Health Systems in Asia and the Pacific. The session showcased Unified Sports for Inclusive Health Access with support from ADB, Pat Doctolero, Polin Dy Ly, Special Olympics Pilipinas National Director Anthony Galicia, Bocce Head Coach Ethel Tan, and all the contributing athletes.

Louise McSorley
Social Development Specialist, Human and Social Development Sector Office, Sectors Department

Louise McSorley works on the social dimensions of Just Transition at ADB. A lawyer by training, she has drafted labor laws in Australia, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, and served as a diplomat in New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur. She led Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency and Office for Women, and has advised the International Labor Organization. She also held executive roles in workplace safety and compensation, and holds qualifications in law, anthropology, and management.

Annemarie Hill
Chief of Health Operations, Special Olympics International

Annemarie Hill oversees health programming across Special Olympics’ seven regions. She has served multiple roles in her more than 20-year tenure with the Special Olympics movement, including as CEO of Special Olympics South Africa and in leading health programming in the Africa region. She has extensive experience in the nonprofit, disability and health areas and qualifications in healthcare (physiotherapy), public health and executive leadership.

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Shruti Mehta
Senior Manager of Organizational Development, Special Olympics Asia-Pacific

Shruti Mehta overseas the quality standards of program delivery for the Special Olympic country offices in the Asia-Pacific region. In collaboration with the UNESCO Chair in Ireland, she completed research that focuses on tapping into multilateral development bank financing to support sport for development initiatives. She has been part of Asian Development Bank's Youth for Asia under the NGO and Civil Society Centre and led a scoping study on sport as a tool for development in Afghanistan.

Vasoontara S. Yiengprugsawan
Senior Universal Health Coverage Specialist (Service Delivery), Human and Social Development Office, Sector Department 3, Asian Development Bank

Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan oversees ADB’s technical assistance on strengthening primary healthcare and management of chronic noncommunicable diseases and mental health. She has held senior health research positions in Australia, a WHO Fellowship with the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, and worked in policy and research with a UN Migration Agency in Geneva. She holds a PhD in Epidemiology, Economics and Population Health from Australian National University and MA in International Development from Syracuse University.

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Special Olympics

Special Olympics is a global sports movement, founded in 1968, to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. It fosters acceptance of all people through the power of sports and programming in education, health and leadership. The movement has grown to more than 4.6 million athletes and Unified Sports® partners in more than 200 countries. With the support of more than one million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers over 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 60,000 events and competitions each year.

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Asian Development Bank (ADB)

The Asian Development Bank is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.

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The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.