title: World Health Organisation Global Disability Action Plan 2014-2021: Challenges and perspectives for physical medicine and rehabilitation in Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an update on disability and outline potential barriers and facilitators for implementation of the World Health Organization Global Disability Action Plan (GDAP) in Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 6-day workshop at the Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Islamabad facilitated by rehabilitation staff from Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia. Local healthcare professionals (n = 33) from medical rehabilitation facilities identified challenges in service provision, education and attitudes/approaches to people with disabilities, using consensus agreement for objectives listed in the GDAP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents agreed on the following challenges in implementing the GDAP: shortage of skilled work-force, fragmented healthcare system, poor coordination between acute and subacute healthcare sectors, limited health services infrastructure and funding, lack of disability data, poor legislation, lack of guidelines and accreditation standards, limited awareness/knowledge of disability, socio-cultural perceptions and geo-topographical issues. The main facilitators included: need for governing/leadership bodies, engagement of healthcare professionals and institutions using a multi-sectoral approach, new partnerships and strategic collaboration, provision of financial and technical assistance, future policy direction, research and development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The barriers to implementing the GDAP identified here highlight the emerging priorities and challenges in the development of rehabilitation medicine and GDAP implementation in a developing country. The GDAP summary actions were useful planning tools to improve access and strengthen rehabilitation services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, 34-54 Poplar Road Parkville, Melbourne VIC 3052, Australia. E-mail: fary.khan@mh.org.au.
authors.forename: Fary
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Bhasker
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amatya
authors.forename: Tahir M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Sayed
authors.forename: Aamir W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jamil
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Alaeldin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elmalik
authors.forename: Farooq A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbott
mesh_terms: D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan; D010810:Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D014944:World Health Organization