Fostering inclusion: Advancing social health protection for persons with disabilities in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam

Advancing disability-inclusive social protection is vital to realizing countries’ commitment to universal and equitable access to social health protection. Better access to healthcare can, in turn, promotes broader social inclusion of and economic participation by persons with disabilities. Such
inclusive systems also enhance financial security for individuals and their families, mitigating poverty linked to disability and healthcare costs.
Ensuring that social protection frameworks address the needs of persons with disabilities requires a holistic approach, encompassing population coverage, adequacy of benefits and financial protection. By embedding these principles and rights in legal frameworks and policy, countries can ensure that social health protection systems contribute to a more inclusive and resilient society, aligned with international standards. The ILO's vision of inclusive social protection underscores the need for countries to take concrete steps towards integrating persons with disabilities as stakeholders who can advocate for coordinated policy efforts and adequate financing to achieve universal social health protection.