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Special Olympics Inclusive Health Summit 2024 Concludes with Strong Advocacy for Inclusive Healthcare New Delhi, November 19, 2024 – The Special Olympics Inclusive Health Summit, held yesterday at The Lalit Hotel, brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and advocates to address pressing health disparities faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). Organized by Special Olympics Bharat (SO Bharat), the summit highlighted a shared commitment to promoting health equity, inclusion, and equal access to healthcare for all. Chief Guest Smt. Anupriya Patel, Hon’ble Union Minister of State - Health and Family Welfare and Minister of State - Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India, inaugurated the event. In her keynote address, Smt. Patel emphasized the critical need for inclusive healthcare policies and practices, underscoring the government’s commitment to providing equitable healthcare access. She said, "One of our key priorities is to connect and integrate essential health data systems such as the Unique Disability ID (UDID) and the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA). By aligning these two significant data systems, we can build a mechanism that allows for better data access and more targeted health interventions for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)." The Health Summit included in-depth panel discussions, keynote presentations, and interactive sessions aimed at tackling current healthcare gaps and championing the best practices for inclusive healthcare. Sessions focused on topics such as: ● Overcoming healthcare barriers: Recognizing and addressing specific challenges faced by individuals with ID in accessing healthcare. ● Implementing inclusive care practices: Training healthcare providers on inclusive healthcare approaches and fostering an understanding of the unique needs of individuals with ID. ● Driving collaborative policies: Encouraging policy frameworks that promote health equity for individuals with ID at both national and regional levels. Special Olympics Health, supported by the Golisano Foundation, has championed healthcare equity for individuals with ID, impacting over 3 million athletes globally. In the Asia Pacific region alone, Special Olympics has transformed healthcare experiences for athletes across 34 countries, reinforcing its commitment to reducing disparities in healthcare access and quality. Dr. Mallika Nadda, President of SO Bharat, expressed, “The Health Summit provided a critical platform to address the healthcare needs of our athletes and the larger community of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Through this summit, we seek to support partnerships to ensure equitable access to healthcare and enable every individual to achieve their fullest potential." The summit concluded with a shared pledge to enhance inclusive healthcare practices and continue advocating for policies that champion the health and well-being of individuals with ID. Participants committed to ongoing collaboration to address healthcare challenges and ensure a future where every individual’s right to health is upheld.