I am one of 25 people across the world who have been selected by the World Health Organization to be a member of the Technical Expert Group for WHO Global Health Policy and Systems Research Agenda on Disability Health Equity (2026 - 2030). What an honour.
Objectives of the Global Research Agenda
Overall Goal: The WHO Global Research Agenda will guide research that generates the evidence policymakers need to reduce health inequities experienced by persons with disabilities.
1. Define the key knowledge gaps and research areas for evidence generation on health equity for persons with disabilities at a global level over the next five years (from 2026 – 2030).
2. Strengthen knowledge production for evidence-informed policies, plans and practices relating to disability inclusion in health systems strengthening and primary health care.
3. Build research capacity on health equity for persons with disabilities by creating a framework for research priorities to be applied and further contextualized at the regional and national levels.
Background
Persons with disabilities – an estimated 16% of the global population – experience health inequities, as they die up to 20 years earlier and have poorer health compared to persons without disabilities, due to unjust or unfair conditions at all levels of health systems and society. The WHO Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities calls on policymakers to take action on disability inclusion in health systems strengthening efforts at country level, including by establishing national agendas for health policy and systems research.i
Health policy and systems research seeks “to understand and improve how societies organize themselves in achieving collective health goals, and how different actors interact in the policy and implementation processes to contribute to policy outcomes”.ii Health policy and systems research on disability health equity would explore a wide range of system-level questions − from financing to governance, through to issues surrounding the implementation of services and delivery of care, to the role of social determinants of health and the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders across sectors. Such research is crucial for policymakers to make informed decisions about which actions will contribute to the realization of universal health coverage (UHC), and to the smooth coordination between sectors, when advancing health equity for persons with disabilities.iii
There is currently no global health policy and system research agenda on health equity for persons with disabilities, but there is a growing need and demand for such a resource and approach. The World Health Assembly Resolution 74.8 on the “Highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities” requested WHO to support Member States with "the creation of a global research agenda that aligns with UHC, health emergencies and health and well-being, including health systems and policy research”.iv
