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All times listed in Dubai time – (check your local time)
The full programme and attendance is accessible through the HSR2020 website.
Please note that this session has been postponed and will be rescheduled in early 2021.
Session overview
Rehabilitation 2030 is the global call to action that highlights the profound unmet need, particularly in LMICs, for rehabilitation service provision. The purpose of the session is to sensitise the HPSR community to the significance of rehabilitation as a systems-level intervention to optimising functioning.
Session description
Introduction
As the global epidemiologic transition progresses from infectious to non-communicable diseases (NCDs, rapid urbanization and motorization increasing the risk of injuries, improvements in healthcare services increasing life expectancy, and a rapidly increasing elderly population living with chronic diseases and disability), and with rising conflict around the world, health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are ill-equipped to cope with the increasing needs for rehabilitation services. As a result, many individuals do not have access to much needed rehabilitation services, which exacerbates their condition and may lead to further complications and lifelong consequences.
An estimated 2.4 billion people worldwide require rehabilitation at some point in their lives. These needs are spread across the lifespan, from children with congenital and intellectual impairment to young adults with physical limitation resulting from unintentional and war-related injuries to older people suffering from NCDs. The Rehabilitation 2030 highlights this profound unmet need and is a global call to action.
Due to its unique contribution to optimising functioning, the third public health indicator (alongside mortality and morbidity), rehabilitation is a priority health strategy for the 21st century. To date, however, perspectives on rehabilitation have been predominantly clinical. In recognition of this, and to advance Rehabilitation 2030, WHO is harnessing global expertise for building the health systems evidence-base for rehabilitation. This includes a complement of efforts, including the development of a health policy and systems research framework for strengthening rehabilitation to guide much-needed research.
Objectives
The goal of this session is to sensitise the Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) community to the significance of rehabilitation as a core health systems component to optimise functioning. The specific objectives are to:
Present and to launch the WHO/Alliance Health Policy and Systems Research Framework for Strengthening Rehabilitation; and
Portray and debate the added value of the framework from the perspective of countries, communities, research institutions and donors.