Volume 2 - Issue 2, March - April 2026

This study explored the challenges and opportunities shaping equitable, accessible, and inclusive healthcare for individuals with special needs and/or disabilities in Zambia. Guided by an interpretivist paradigm, a multiple-site qualitative case study was conducted with doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, administrators, and persons with disabilities, using purposive and maximum variation sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and document analysis, and analyzed thematically using inductive and deductive coding. Findings reveal that inclusive healthcare is constrained by inaccessible infrastructure, limited assistive technologies, workforce gaps, communication barriers, and systemic bias. Guided by the Social Model of Disability, participants recommended universal design aligned infrastructure, disability-inclusive training, multidisciplinary care, digital health interventions, and strengthened policy enforcement. The study underscores that systemic reforms, rather than individual adaptation, are essential to achieve person-centered, rights-based, and equitable healthcare for persons with disabilities.

Moses Chisala, Thomas Timothy Mtonga, Florence Sememba, Daniel Ndhlovu,"Unearthing Challenges and Opportunities in Provision of Inclusive Healthcare Services Among Individuals With Special Needs AND /OR Disability" International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Educational Development, V2(2): Page(564-576) Mar-Apr 2026. ISSN: 3107-6513. www.ijamred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.