This week a landmark resolution on “Strengthening rehabilitation in health systems” was adopted by 194 Members States at the 76th World Health Assembly. Physiopedia, with the ReLAB-HS consortium was proud to contribute to supporting of the resolution.
The resolution, which was approved in February this year, responds to the large global need for rehabilitation and the significant gap in availability of services, especially in low- and middle-income countries, with as much as 50% of people not receiving the rehabilitation they require. The resolution highlights:
- the importance of raising awareness of rehabilitation among policy- and decision-makers when setting health priorities
- the need to better equip countries in responding to rehabilitation needs, including assistive technology, in the context of health emergencies
- common challenges faced in accessing affordable, quality and appropriate rehabilitation services, particularly for marginalised and vulnerable populations
- the current lack of rehabilitation workforce that urgently needs to be addressed
The resolution calls for key actions to be taken by Member States, international organisations and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen rehabilitation in health systems. It also requests that the World Health Organisation (WHO) support the implementation of Rehabilitation 2030, through the development of technical guidance and resources, the development of feasible targets and indicators, and by integrating rehabilitation and assistive technology in its emergency medical teams, among other requests. The successful implementation of this resolution is critical to ensure the enjoyment of human rights, including the best possible physical and mental health.
On 10–11 July 2023, WHO will be hosting, and Physiopedia will attend, the 3rd Global Rehabilitation 2030 meeting where we will discuss the adoption of this landmark resolution and the actions requested.
This work is supported by the USAID funded Learning Acting Building for Rehabilitation in Health Systems (ReLAB-HS) project and is not possible without the generous and committed contribution of the Leahy War Victims fund. ReLAB-HS is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and
is implemented under cooperative agreement number 7200AA20CA00033. The consortium is managed by prime recipient, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
