Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation aims to support anyone with an injury, illness or development condition who experiences short- or long-term impairment and limitations in functioning. Rehabilitation can also be an important health service for people as they age, helping them remain active and independent for as long as possible. As part of the continuum of care, rehabilitation builds on curative interventions to help people address problems with communication, cognition, mobility, and self-care. Rehabilitation interventions may involve a combination of therapeutic techniques, environmental modification, and assistive technology, as well as education and advice. For many, it is an essential health service that enables participation in education, work and community life.
It is estimated that 610 million – or 1 in 3 people - in the Western Pacific Region experience a health condition that could benefit from rehabilitation. The need for rehabilitation and assistive technology continues to grow as populations age; there are 245 million people 65 years and older in the Western Pacific, which is predicted to double by 2050. Rehabilitation needs are also increasing with the rise of noncommunicable diseases, such as stroke, cardiorespiratory diseases, and diabetes, which are the leading cause of death and disability in the Region. The high number of road traffic accidents further increases the risk of injury and trauma for which rehabilitation is required.
While the need for rehabilitation is immense and continues to grow, services are often underdeveloped and undervalued, particularly when health systems are not strong. As a result, 50% of people are estimated to fail to receive the rehabilitation they need.
Access to quality rehabilitation can profoundly impact individuals and their families, enabling people with health conditions to pursue education, work, and recreational goals. Rehabilitation also has an important economic and social impact because it can support people to live more independently for longer, reduce or prevent hospital admissions, and improve health outcomes.
Rehabilitation is an essential part of emergency preparedness and response, which is highly relevant to many countries in the Western Pacific Region. Despite this, rehabilitation is too often neglected and avoidably disrupted when health emergencies strike. By embedding rehabilitation in emergency preparedness and response, people receive better care and individuals, families, and communities are better supported.
WHO in the Western Pacific supports Member States in strengthening rehabilitation in their health system to ensure all people receive the care they need without financial hardship. The World Health Assembly 2023 resolution, “Strengthening rehabilitation in health systems”, demonstrates the importance of rehabilitation as a global health priority and a critical measure to advance universal health coverage.
The Western Pacific Regional Framework on Rehabilitation highlights priorities, including action to address service availability and quality, governance and financing, workforce and data and research for rehabilitation. WHO implements the framework with Member States and development partners by providing technical support and guidance and reporting data that can help track progress and guide decision-making.
