The importance of health policy and systems research for strengthening rehabilitation in health systems: a call to action to accelerate progress

[...]according to the 2022 Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities, approximately 1.3 billion people or 16% of the world’s population has moderate to severe levels of disability associated with the underlying health conditions and impairments [13]. By nature, it is inter-disciplinary, a blend of economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, law sciences, public health, and epidemiology that together draw a comprehensive picture of how health systems respond and adapt to health policies, and how health policies can shape − and be shaped by − health systems and the broader determinants of health. [...]the evidence generated by HPSR helps to (1) establish priorities for rehabilitation service delivery, (2) evaluate outcomes of various rehabilitation interventions in relation to the levels of care in the health system, (3) identify specific benefits to society justifying those decisions, and (4) strengthen health systems to increase access, quality, and provision of health services for rehabilitation [4].