Persons with intellectual disabilities have the right to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability (CRPD, article 25).
Health is defined as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or illness”. The CRPD also establishes that disability is not necessarily a medical condition. While persons with disabilities may at times need to access health services for medical conditions related to their disabilities, this should not be presumed to be their primary need for health services.
Persons with intellectual disabilities have the same general health care needs as everyone else.
They have the right to access mainstream health care services on equal basis. It is crucial that health
care services and facilities are developed and accessible to all persons with disabilities.
However, access to health care has been restricted for people with intellectual disabilities, resulting in preventable death, lower life expectancy and poorer quality of life.
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