From commitments to change: governments in the lead – advancing disability and health equity on the road to an inclusive 2030

8 September, 2026, 10-11:30 CEST

Aligned with the midterm progress report on the WHO European Framework for Action to Achieve the Highest Attainable Standard of Health for Persons with Disabilities 2022–2030 (document EUR/RC76/6), this side event will showcase selected case studies from the document Good practices on disability-inclusive health: the WHO European framework to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for people with disabilities, illustrating how Member States are operationalizing the WHO European Framework for Action to Achieve the Highest Attainable Standard of Health for Persons with Disabilities 2022–2030 (document EUR/RC72/7; resolution EUR/RC72/R3).

Additionally, Montenegro will present its experience as the first country in the Region to implement the WHO Health equity for persons with disabilities: guide for action and develop a national action plan for disability-inclusive health, highlighting multisectoral governance and co-production with organizations of persons with disabilities.

Other Member States featured in the good practice document could share innovations such as accessible communication, preventive health screenings specifically adapted to meet the needs of persons with disabilities, and real-time sign language interpretation, which reduce persistent health gaps. Inviting members of the Technical Advisory Group on the WHO European Framework for Action to Achieve the Highest Attainable Standard of Health for Persons with Disabilities, 2022–2030 (TAG-Disability and Health) would ensure critical reflection on lessons learned, transferability and scale-up of these practices.

The side event will give delegations concrete, replicable examples on how targeted initiatives can strengthen universal health coverage and disability health equity across the Region.