Accessibility to care: the challenge that is redesigning healthcare

Ensuring accessibility to care is one of the main objectives of advanced healthcare systems today. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), equal access to health services is a fundamental right, still too often hindered by physical, economic, cultural and social barriers.

In the medical tourism and thermal wellness sector, accessibility means not only structures without architectural barriers, but also therapeutic paths designed for people with disabilities of various kinds.

Recent data from the European Disability Forum indicate that over 15% of the European population has a form of permanent disability: a percentage that is set to increase with demographic aging. Making care paths accessible is no longer just a question of ethics, but a necessary solution.

Inclusive care to meet specific needs

Inclusiveness goes beyond simple physical accessibility. It means building health services that take into account the diversity of people: age, gender, language, culture, socioeconomic conditions.

In Italian healthcare settings, such as those on Italcares, a new model is emerging: inclusive care, designed to welcome each individual, breaking down stereotypes and responding to specific needs. This approach translates into:

• Therapeutic solutions calibrated for different fragility profiles;

• Clear, multilingual and accessible communication;

• Specific training for healthcare workers and reception staff;

• Prevention programs also designed for vulnerable categories.

A study published in The Lancet Public Health highlighted that inclusive healthcare services lead to a significant reduction in long-term social and healthcare costs, thanks to better adherence to therapeutic pathways and increased prevention.

Accessibility and inclusiveness for global healthcare development

Accessibility and inclusiveness are no longer optional elements in care pathways: they are fundamental conditions for advanced, ethical and economically sustainable healthcare. In medical and spa tourism, embracing these values ​​means opening up to new opportunities for growth, supporting the health of the person in all its declinations, making well-being a truly universal right.