Connecting for change: integrating disability equity across global health agendas

Persons with disabilities continue to face persistent health inequities, including barriers to access, affordability, and quality of care. While disability inclusive approaches are increasingly recognized as essential to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and broader global health goals, meaningful integration across major health agendas remains uneven. This side event responds to this gap by fostering dialogue, sharing evidence, and building alliances between disability advocates and actors working across UHC and related global health processes.

The session aims to:

• Introduce the WHO Disability Health Equity Network as an ally in advocacy for UHC.
• Connect members of the WHO Disability Health Equity Network and the broader global health community working on UHC to build relationships and mutual understanding.
• Explore key insights and evidence on health equity for persons with disabilities, including major gaps and opportunities.
• Identify shared priorities, natural alignment points, and practical ways to collaborate across mainstream global health agendas and initiatives.
• Co-create ideas for strengthening disability inclusion within UHC and global health agendas through partnership and collective action.