plans to supervise and improve the above.
114. The NHRC is also concerned that, like clinics, community pharmacies, which also
have a close relationship with persons with disabilities, do not have accessible
environments. According to statistical data provided by the MOHW, as of July 13,
2021, only 30% 100 of NHI-contracted pharmacies reported that they had
accessible environments and non-NHI-contracted pharmacies do not have any
related statistical data. The lack of accessible environments, accessible facilities,
and support measures in pharmacies was made even clearer during efforts to obtain
facemasks and prescription drugs for chronic conditions/illnesses during the
outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
115. In the CRPD Second Report, the MOHW mentioned that as of 2019, 358 health
centers had been certified as ageing-friendly healthcare institutions. However, the
certification criteria used were mostly based on standards announced by the WHO
(which emphasizes the concept of active aging among older adults) rather than
on the concept of “complete accessibility” advocated by the CRPD. The NHRC
once again reiterates that providing accessible medical environments is an
obligation, not a choice, of states that are party to the CRPD. Since the HPA
introduced aging-friendly healthcare institution certification in 2010, 645
institutions101 have obtained certification (as of 2020). Among these institutions,
only one was a clinic, revealing the ineffectiveness of the certification system in
promoting accessible environments in basic clinics. Moreover, the certification
process involves healthcare institutions actively submitting applications and
performing self-assessments, resulting in standards that are far below those
required for accessible facilities in buildings and failing to meet CRPD
requirements. Thus, the health rights of persons with disabilities are relatively
unprotected.
116. The NHRC pointed out that the Women Health Handbook and Children Health
Handbook provided by the HPA do not have multiple easy-to-read versions.
and concluded that the need was minimal. (d) Current webpages were sufficient, so no revisions were
made.
100
The number of NHI-contracted pharmacies reporting totaled 2,775.
101
Data obtained from the “Aging-Friendly Healthcare Institutions” list released on the HPA website.
78