V. Lack of Accessibility and Discrimination in Healthcare

For many people with disabilities we interviewed in Iran, lack of inaccessible facilities, discriminatory attitudes, and a lack of awareness about disability among doctors and medical staff, impede access to medical care. Barriers to accessibility described in detail above include: in accessing personal care and assistive devices; lack of insurance coverage under the national insurance scheme; a lack of financial means including inadequate government support; inaccessible transportation and physical infrastructure, such as in health care facilities impeding access to medical services for people with disabilities on an equal basis with other people in Iran.[181]

We also documented cases in which doctors and other healthcare professionals did not seek or obtain the informed consent of their patients with disabilities and did not provide them with comprehensive information about treatment or potential side-effects in an understandable format, if at all.

The CRPD requires that persons with disabilities enjoy the highest attainable standard of health with the same range, quality, and standard of free or affordable health care and programs as provided to other persons.[182]