Right to Health of Persons with Disabilities During Covid-19: Obligation of the State

Persons with disabilities will have difficulty to access health care, education, employment, and community participation even in normal circumstances. They are more likely to suffer from higher rates of violence, neglect, and abuse, and to be among the most marginalized in any community affected by a crisis. COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem by having a disproportionately negative impact on people with disabilities, both directly and indirectly. Mostly, people with disabilities will have pre-existing health conditions that make them more vulnerable to contracting the virus, causing them to have more severe symptoms and dying at higher rates. During the COVID-19 crisis, people with disabilities who rely on others for assistance may become isolated and unable to survive lockdowns, especially those who live in institutions, as evidenced by the high number of deaths in residential care homes and psychiatric facilities. Access to health services and information has become more difficult for people with disabilities. In an infectious disease pandemic situation like Covid, this article discusses the unique roles of the state and other stakeholders in ensuring the health rights of people with disabilities. This impact can be reduced if key stakeholders take the necessary actions and precautions on time. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with physical disabilities, as well as the isolation and protective measures that have been implemented by the State to protect them.