ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE WITH DISABILITY-FRIENDLY HEALTHCARE STANDARDS IN A TERTIARY CARE GOVERNMENT TEACHING HOSPITAL IN INDIA

Background: Accessibility in healthcare settings for persons with disabilities (PwDs) is fundamental to achieving inclusive, equitable care. Despite national and international commitments such as the UNCRPD and the Accessibility Standards for Healthcare (MoHFW, 2021), compliance within public hospitals in India remains inconsistent. Objective: To assess the level of compliance with Disabled Friendly Hospital (DFH) guidelines in the Neurology Department, Gandhi Ward building, and TG Hostel building at a tertiary care government teaching hospital in Lucknow, India. Methods: An observational study was conducted at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow. Data were collected using a standardized checklist based on MoHFW Accessibility Standards and the WHO Disability-Inclusive Health Services Toolkit (2020).[1] Variables assessed included parking, pathways, lifts, toilets, wards, signage, and emergency preparedness. Compliance percentages were calculated and compared across study sites. Results: Overall compliance with DFH guidelines was 70%. Individual compliance rates were 74% in Neurology Department, 59% in Gandhi Ward, and 79% in TG Hostel building. Key deficiencies were lack of designated disabled parking, absence of Braille signage, and unavailability of hearing loops at reception areas. Conclusion: The study reveals satisfactory but suboptimal accessibility in the evaluated hospital areas. Strengthening infrastructure—especially in parking, signage, and communication aids—and conducting regular staff sensitization can enhance inclusivity and ensure dignified healthcare access for PwDs.