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Final Program


Final Congress Guide

Health Policy and Systems

700 Section - Suggested Solutions to Barriers in Accessing Healthcare and Gender Equity for Persons with Disabilities in Morocco in Support of UHC-Oriented Reforms: A Qualitative Study

Wednesday, May 20, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

    Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

  • Abderrazak Hajjioui, PhD

    Full Prof
    Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University
    tangier, Tanger-Tetouan, Morocco

    • Co-Author/Coautor(s)

  • BB

    Brahim Bouhmadi, MD

    Head of the Rehabilitation and Geriatrics Department
    Directorate of Population / Ministry of Health and Social Protection
    Rabat, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Morocco

Objectives :

To identify and synthesize stakeholder-proposed solutions for addressing gendered barriers to healthcare and rehabilitation access among PwD in Morocco.

Design:

This qualitative study adopted a multimethod approach that included:


  1. Document review of national health policies, strategies, and scientific literature concerning disability inclusion and gender equity;

  2. Mapping of rehabilitation services across Morocco to identify geographical disparities, service gaps, and structural accessibility challenges;

  3. Semi-structured interviews with 46 key stakeholders (25 women), including Ministry of Health officials, rehabilitation professionals, and NGOs working in disability and rights (October–December 2024).
    This triangulated design enabled a comprehensive understanding of systemic, infrastructural, and gender-specific determinants of inequitable access.



Results:

Stakeholders reported major barriers including:


  • Inaccessible health infrastructure, lack of adapted equipment, and inadequate communication modalities (e.g., sign language);

  • Insufficient professional training on disability- and gender-responsive care;

  • Limited financial protection, high out-of-pocket costs, and insufficient coverage of rehabilitation services and assistive technologies;

  • Gender-based disparities, restricting women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services and increasing vulnerability to discrimination;

  • Service gaps, especially in rural areas with limited or absent rehabilitation facilities.


Proposed solutions emphasized: integration of gender and disability in national health policies; expansion of UHC to include rehabilitation and assistive technologies; development of accessible infrastructure; gender-responsive training for health workers; anti-stigma and awareness initiatives; deployment of mobile rehabilitation units; and strengthened monitoring and data systems.

Conclusion:

Addressing gendered inequities in access to rehabilitation for PwD in Morocco requires structural reforms grounded in disability inclusion and gender sensitivity. Implementing stakeholder-driven solutions—policy integration, accessibility improvements, enhanced financial protection, and professional capacity-building—will substantially advance progress toward equitable, inclusive UHC.