DIGITAL BARRIERS TO HEALTHCARE: WEB ACCESSIBILITY OF PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS IN BULGARIA
Keywords:
web accessibility, healthcare, WCAG compliance, digital inclusion, right to health, BulgariaAbstract
The digitalization of healthcare has transformed institutional websites into essential gateways for accessing health information and public health services. Consequently, web accessibility has become a prerequisite for equitable access to healthcare rather than merely a technical feature of website quality. This study examines the web accessibility of public health institutions in Bulgaria through the perspectives of Disability Studies, digital ableism, and the right to health. Accessibility is conceptualized as an indicator of institutional commitment to equality and social inclusion rather than solely compliance with technical standards.
The study evaluates 271 official public healthcare websites using the WAVE accessibility evaluation tool based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1. The results reveal widespread accessibility deficiencies across the Bulgarian healthcare sector. Only 3% of the analysed websites contained no detectable accessibility errors, while 97% exhibited at least one accessibility barrier. The most common problems included insufficient colour contrast, missing alternative text for images, inaccessible navigation elements, and the absence of legally required accessibility statements.
The findings suggest that these deficiencies represent systemic institutional barriers rather than isolated technical problems. Inaccessible healthcare websites restrict independent access to health information and digital services, reproducing inequalities for persons with disabilities before any interaction with healthcare professionals occurs. The study argues that improving web accessibility requires not only technical compliance but also stronger institutional governance and the integration of accessibility into digital transformation and healthcare policy.
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