| Sumario: | The article focuses on strengthening the integration of rehabilitation services into health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). It highlights the growing demand for rehabilitation due to aging populations and rising non-communicable diseases, noting significant access gaps that hinder health outcomes and economic productivity. The authors propose evidence-based policy options including national strategic planning aligned with WHO guidelines, embedding rehabilitation in primary care, expanding workforce training, investing in digital technologies like telerehabilitation, scaling community-based rehabilitation, establishing dedicated governance units, and implementing sustainable financing models. The article also outlines phased implementation steps and addresses challenges such as workforce shortages, fragmented services, funding limitations, governance weaknesses, digital divides, and cultural stigma, recommending multisectoral coordination and international support to enhance rehabilitation integration in the EMR.
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