Integrating Oral and Maxillofacial Prostheses into India’s RPwD Act, 2016 : A Policy Perspective
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Abstract
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, led to a pivotal moment in India, which initiated the journey towards disability inclusion. This further led to the establishment of a society where all individuals with disabilities, regardless of their abilities, participate fully and with dignity. However, within this broad and inclusive vision lies a silent gap - oral and maxillofacial related disability, rehabilitation for which is still not explicitly recognized as an essential assistive service. For people living with craniofacial defects, prostheses like dentures, obturators, speech aids, and facial prosthetics are often out of reach. These devices are far more than just medical interventions; they restore the ability to speak, eat, and express oneself, restoring not just physical health but also confidence, a sense of belonging, and self-worth.
This paper aims to highlight how the formal recognition of Oral and Maxillofacial (OMF) Prostheses could transform India's assistive technology system. These prostheses do much more than just restore function; they help people regain confidence, communicate, and reconnect socially. Backed by growing evidence of their physical, emotional, and social value, this paper calls for a policy change that incorporates OMFP as an essential component of AT, to be included in government-supported rehabilitation programs and promote teamwork among dental professionals, rehabilitation experts, and policymakers. Aligning India's approach with the vision of the RPwD Act (2016) and the WHO's Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) initiative would mark a major step toward making oral and maxillofacial rehabilitation not just a legal right, but a lived reality for everyone.
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