In a world where more than 2.6 billion people—one in every three—live with conditions that could be improved through rehabilitation, access to these essential health services remains severely limited. Humanity & Inclusion’s newly released 2025 advocacy report, Rehabilitation for All, reveals a stark global reality: over 50% of those in need, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), do not receive rehabilitation services. This gap threatens not only the health of individuals but the sustainability of entire health systems.
As global populations age and chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) surge, rehabilitation must be urgently integrated into national health strategies to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The report outlines how rehabilitation is a cornerstone for inclusive, equitable, and resilient health systems—and why the world can no longer afford to treat it as a luxury.
Rehabilitation: A Lifespan Necessity, Not a Luxury
Rehabilitation is not just for people with disabilities. It serves anyone experiencing limitations in daily functioning—from newborns with developmental delays to older adults managing stroke recovery or chronic conditions. Conditions that benefit from rehabilitation include musculoskeletal disorders, mental health issues, cardiovascular disease, injuries, and pregnancy-related complications.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines rehabilitation as a “set of interventions designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability.” This may include physical therapy, assistive technologies (AT), occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychosocial support.
According to the report, rehabilitation improves quality of life across all ages:
- Children and adolescents benefit from early interventions that optimize development and prevent long-term impairments.
- Adults maintain their ability to work, care for their families, and contribute to society.
- Older people experience greater autonomy and reduced dependency through rehabilitative care that addresses the effects of ageing and chronic illness.
Systemic Gaps in Access and Delivery
Despite growing need, rehabilitation services are often inaccessible due to systemic barriers such as workforce shortages, insufficient financing, lack of awareness, and poor integration into primary healthcare. The report highlights the critical situation in three LMICs—Benin, Haiti, and Uganda—where rehabilitation services are underfunded and overburdened.
In Haiti, for example, gang-related violence forced the closure of 40% of health facilities, including the country’s main university hospital. In Uganda, fewer than 5% of people who need AT have access to it. In Benin, social protection systems cover just 8.4% of the population, leaving most to pay out of pocket for health services.
The cost of care is prohibitive. In many countries, out-of-pocket (OOP) payments exceed WHO’s recommended threshold of 20% of total health expenditure. In Haiti, OOP accounts for nearly half of all health spending. This disproportionally impacts marginalized populations, including women, rural residents, people with disabilities, and the elderly.
Investing in Rehabilitation: A Smart Public Health Strategy
Rehabilitation is not only life-changing—it is cost-effective. Investing in rehabilitation reduces long-term healthcare expenditures by preventing complications and hospital readmissions. It also supports workforce productivity and economic stability by enabling individuals to return to work and caregiving responsibilities.
Yet, many countries fall short of their financial commitments. As of 2022, health accounted for just 2.6% of government spending in Benin, 4.1% in Haiti, and 4.9% in Uganda—far below the 15% target set by the Abuja Declaration. Furthermore, recent global aid cuts—totaling $17.2 billion from major donors—pose a major threat to health systems already stretched to their limits.
To close the gap, the report urges governments to prioritize rehabilitation in public health financing, integrate it into essential service packages, and adopt sustainable funding models that reduce reliance on donor aid.
Data: The Foundation of Effective Policy
One of the most significant barriers to rehabilitation expansion is the lack of reliable data. Without disaggregated information by age, gender, disability status, income, and geography, policymakers cannot effectively plan services or allocate resources.
Uganda provides a model of progress. In 2024, the Ministry of Health, in partnership with WHO, introduced six rehabilitation indicators into its Health Management Information System (HMIS). This data will inform strategic planning and improve service delivery. The report calls on all governments to follow suit and invest in robust, intersectional health data systems.
Rehabilitation Across the Continuum of Care
Rehabilitation should be available at all stages of care—from prevention to palliative support—and across all levels of the health system. Yet, it remains heavily concentrated in urban tertiary hospitals, while rural and underserved communities struggle to access even basic services.
Integrating rehabilitation into primary healthcare is crucial. Nurses, general practitioners, and community health workers are often the first point of contact and should be trained to identify needs, offer basic rehabilitation, and provide referrals. WHO’s Basic Rehabilitation Package offers a low-cost, high-impact solution for scaling up services in resource-constrained settings.
Innovative solutions like mobile clinics and telerehabilitation have also proven effective in extending access to remote areas. In Haiti, nearly half of all rehabilitation services are now delivered through mobile units.
Human Stories: Rehabilitation in Action
The report includes compelling testimonies from rehabilitation users:
- Temia, a single mother in Uganda, overcame stigma and financial hardship to access therapy for her two children with disabilities through HI’s CHANCE project.
- Jesulène, a stroke survivor in Haiti, found new hope after regaining mobility through occupational therapy and family support.
- Souleyman, a 60-year-old amputee in Benin, received a prosthetic limb and physiotherapy that restored his independence and dignity.
These personal journeys underscore how access to rehabilitation can transform lives, empower communities, and reduce long-term burdens on caregivers and health systems.
Building a Resilient Workforce
Critical workforce shortages remain a barrier to expanding rehabilitation. LMICs often have fewer than 10 rehabilitation professionals per million people. The report recommends:
- Training and accrediting more professionals (e.g., physiotherapists, speech therapists, prosthetists).
- Developing flexible, decentralized training programs, especially in rural areas.
- Recognizing and regulating rehabilitation professions to ensure quality of care.
In Haiti, for instance, rehabilitation professionals are not formally recognized in the national job framework, leading to role ambiguity and poor career development.
Assistive Technology: Affordable and Available
Access to AT—including prosthetics, hearing aids, wheelchairs, and communication devices—is essential for effective rehabilitation. However, affordability, quality, and availability remain major challenges. Strategic investments such as bulk procurement, price benchmarking, and support for local production (e.g., 3D-printed prosthetics in Uganda) are key to improving supply.
To drive demand, public awareness campaigns and healthcare worker training must ensure that people understand the benefits of AT and how to access it.
Multisectoral Collaboration is Essential
No single sector can address the complexity of rehabilitation needs. Governments, NGOs, international donors, and communities must collaborate across health, education, labor, and social protection systems. In Haiti, Humanity & Inclusion’s work with local partners and ministries has led to stronger governance, improved data systems, and a revitalized national physiotherapy association.
Conclusion: A Global Imperative
Rehabilitation is essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage, gender equity, and the Sustainable Development Goals. As global health systems face mounting challenges—from ageing populations to climate-induced crises—the need for integrated, inclusive, and resilient rehabilitation services has never been more urgent.
The Rehabilitation for All report offers a powerful blueprint for action. It calls on governments and stakeholders worldwide to recognize rehabilitation as a right, not a privilege—and to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access the care they need to live with dignity and independence.
Full Report: here
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