In the rapidly growing urban times health is a major concern for all. With the COVID pandemic — major rift between healthcare and accessibility has been highlighted. Whether it’s the vaccine distribution, treatment purveyed by government and private bodies or emergency therapies- there’s lack of accessibility in virtually all aspects of the healthcare system.
A large number of people do not have access to healthcare leave alone accessible healthcare. This is where the challenge crops up in providing quality healthcare at the right price to people who need it. A majority of people across the global population have reduced mobility at some point of time in their lives or another whether it is the elderly, pregnant women or those facing Intellectual disability for example cerebral palsy — gaining access to the most basic healthcare can be a challenge.
Partly Because of lack of accessible infrastructure, lack of a significant number of healthcare workforce , accessible vaccination, treatment and cost of dispensing medication.
Making healthcare accessible is a multistep process that would require transforming the entire system one part at a time and it would include-
- Accessible infrastructure — creating healthcare infrastructure that allows for equitable access. This includes accessible hospitals, vaccination centres, pharmacy — following the rules of universal design.
- Creating policies that promote accessibility in terms of helping those with reduced mobility would allow for a larger percentage of people to lead a healthier life thus a community that’s truly healthy and immunised.
- Empowering organisations that work towards accessibility in the healthcare world.
- Special provisions for people with reduced mobility for continuous health checkup and free of cost equipments that will allow them to engage more freely.