The transformation of the health system for greater inclusion and meeting the health needs of persons with disabilities (PWD) is the way to create an inclusive society in which no one will be forgotten.
This was announced at the national consultation on the health equality of PWD organized by the Ministry of Health, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The WHO office in Montenegro said that Montenegro is the first and only country in Europe, and among the five countries in the world, that plans to implement measures and interventions in accordance with the WHO Global Guide, in order to improve health equality and inclusion of PWDs.
As announced, the consultations were opened by Minister of Health Vojislav Šimun, Deputy Prime Minister for Labour, Education, Health and Social Policy Srđan Pavićević, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations (UN) System in Montenegro Peter Lundberg and Head of the WHO Office in Montenegro Mina Brajović.
Šimun said that he will work tirelessly to provide universal health care and access to every citizen.
"Recently, the Government adopted the Strategy for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities from Discrimination and the Promotion of Equality, which includes a focus on the accessibility of health services for persons with disabilities and is dedicated to reducing discrimination and barriers in accessing health services," said Šimun.
As he said, these are important steps that must be taken and there is a lot of work ahead of them on that path.
"Therefore, I welcome the WHO's efforts to promote equality for people with disabilities and the support they provide to the Government of Montenegro in that direction," Šimun said.
Pavićević pointed out that the Government is committed to the full implementation of obligations from the ratified UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and the UN Political Declaration on Universal Health Care.
According to him, the attitude towards the PWD is the identity card of the society.
Pavićević said that fellow citizens bear the burden of disability due to unfair conditions in society that can be avoided, which is morally and in every other sense unacceptable.
He pointed out that it is time to translate conventions and strategies into action for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Lundberg estimated that 1,3 billion people worldwide face some form of disability and encounter barriers in life.
"Now is the time for changes, we must speed up the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which promotes, protects and ensures respect for the human rights of persons with disabilities," said Lundberg.
As he said, the UN supports Montenegro on that path.
"Achieving health for all, including people with disabilities, will require partnership and cooperation. The United Nations team will be with you every step of the way," said Lundberg.
He pointed out that the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 cannot be achieved without the inclusion of people with disabilities.
Brajović assessed that efforts to achieve universal health care are a prerequisite for creating an inclusive society in which no one will be forgotten.
She believes that PWDs bear the burden of unfair conditions in society that can be avoided.
"Regardless of what type of barriers we are talking about as obstacles for people with disabilities in achieving health care, they distance us from humanity, an inclusive society and prosperity," said Brajović.
According to her, PWDs and the elderly are exposed to a greater risk of contracting chronic non-communicable diseases, precisely because of the current situation and unmet needs, higher levels of poverty and exclusion.
"And it is necessary to systematically work on a sustainable response to the epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases, as the leading cause of disability and illness," said Brajović.
As she stated, there is no inclusion of PWDs without transformation of the health system based on strong primary health care, as a strategy for achieving universal health care and the backbone of a dynamic health system that will competently provide services for prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation of PWDs.
She pointed out that the issue of PWD is at the top of the WHO agenda and that the Global Report on Health Equity and PWD was published last year, which contains specific recommendations to member countries to improve the inclusion of PWD and their health.
"He is happy that Montenegro, recognizing that health is the right of all and not the privilege of the chosen ones, is the first country in Europe that initiated the process of creating an Action Plan for the promotion of equality in the health of PWDs, as a platform for the transformation of the health system and a greater degree of inclusivity of PWDs, insisting on integration, full involvement of PWDs in the process of planning targeted interventions", said Brajović.
She emphasized that the level of health care for PWDs is a measure of true commitment to universal health care and a healthier and safer society for all.
The announcement states that PWDs make up 15 percent of the global population, and that more than 80 percent of PWDs live in poverty.
"In Montenegro, one out of nine people lives with some form of disability (11 percent of the population), and the trend of increasing the number of PWDs is certain, since the population is aging and we are living through an epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases," the announcement says.
It is emphasized that PWDs are three times more likely to be denied health care, and four times more likely to experience inadequate treatment during the provision of health care.
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