On Tuesday 18 August 2026, WHO and partners celebrated the official launch of the new Oral health equity for persons with disabilities: a policy brief at Trinity College Dublin in partnership with the Department of Health, Republic of Ireland.
More than 1.3 billion persons have a significant disability globally, and evidence consistently shows that persons with disabilities experience poorer oral health outcomes and face significant barriers to accessing oral health services. Building on recent WHO commitments in both oral health and disability inclusion, the brief synthesizes the available evidence on the oral health inequities experienced by persons with disabilities, examines the factors that contribute to them, and identifies practical principles and country examples to support more equitable oral health policies, programmes and strategies.
The brief highlights three overarching principles for action:
- placing health equity for persons with disabilities at the centre of oral health policies and programmes;
- ensuring the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in decision-making processes; and
- strengthening monitoring, evaluation and accountability through disability-inclusive data and information systems.
The brief represents a significant milestone in efforts to advance oral health equity. It reflects WHO's position to strengthen more equitable, affordable and inclusive oral health services in global health efforts to achieve universal health coverage. It also builds on a series of landmark achievements that have recently elevated oral health on the global health agenda, including the adoption of the World Health Assembly Resolution on Oral Health in 2021, the endorsement of the Global Oral Health Strategy and Action Plan 2023–2030, the adoption of the Bangkok Declaration No Health Without Oral Health in 2024 and, this year, the establishment of the Global Coalition on Oral Health.
It also represents an important milestone in the growing agenda of disability health equity, aligning with the vision of the WHO Disability Health Equity Initiative, launched in 2025, which seeks to support governments, health institutions and communities in addressing barriers to care, promoting inclusive policies and strengthening disability inclusion in health evidence and data systems.
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/crowd-at-the-launch-of-the-who-policy-brief-on-health-equity-for-persons-with-disabilities.jpeg?sfvrsn=ac5a944a_4 "Crowd at the launch of the WHO policy brief on health equity for persons with disabilities")
Testimonies:
"The progress made in recent years has placed equity at the centre of the global oral health agenda. This policy brief marks an important step forward by providing the first WHO guidance dedicated to disability inclusive oral health, helping countries translate global commitments into practical action and ensuring that persons with disabilities can fully realize their right to oral health." Dr Guy Fones, Unit Head, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, World Health Organization.
"We exist. Disabled people are going to exist for a very, very long time to come. Our politicians and policymakers need to plan for that. One other thing they need to do: they need to speak with us. And I'm not saying speak to us, or speak at us. Speak with us. We are our own patient experts. Please make no decisions about us without us." Carolyn Akintola, Researcher and Disability Advocate, Republic of Ireland.
"I think it's fair to say that people with disabilities face the most bureaucracy when they're trying to access care, and that is the same for the dentist who is striving in practice to do the best for them. They have more red tape, they have less support from their practice and infrastructure, they have less easiness. So, it is really important, and I hope this policy [brief] will influence us, as policymakers, to change the way we fund and support dentists in practice and all oral health care professionals." Dr Dympna Kavanagh, Chief Officer, Republic of Ireland.
"The WHO Oral health disability policy brief is so important now, because we all need this tool to advocate. The message is basically: anybody who is a policymaker, a special care dentist, an advocate, you can run with this. Take it to the governments, take it to the Ministers, get it out there, so that we have an effective advocacy tool to argue for oral health for people with disabilities." Dr Denise Faulks, Specialist in Special Care Dentistry, University of Clermont-Ferrand, France.
"You [persons with disabilities] deserve better. We are here advocating for change. The clinicians, the policymakers, and everybody who's involved in oral care for people with disabilities needs to up its act." Prof. Alison Douglas, Dean of Dental Affairs and Head of School, Trinity College Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
"Persons with disabilities have the same right to oral health services and the wider range of health services as anyone else. WHO is keen to work closely with governments and organisations of persons with disabilities to realise this right." Dr Kaloyan Kamenov, Technical Lead, Disability Programme, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, World Health Organization.
/noncommunicable-diseases-rehabilitation-and-disability-(ncd)/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation-(sdr)/cover-oral-health-and-disability-policy-brief.png?sfvrsn=5b0627a9_3 "Cover of the WHO policy brief on oral health equity for persons with disabilities")