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The resolution on improving access to assistive technology (WHA71.8) urges all Member States to improve access to assistive technology and requests the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop a Global Report on Assistive Technology based on the best available scientific evidence and international experience. The resolution also requests WHO Secretariat to submit progress reports in 2022, 2026 and 2030 to communicate the progress made by the Member States in implementing the resolution.
In response to these requests, WHO has undertaken a global initiative to measure access to assistive technology at the population and system level between April 2019 and December 2021. The data were collected using two WHO tools:
- Assistive technology population access indicators, a population-based household survey that measures self-reported use, need, met need, and barriers to accessing assistive technology.
- Assistive technology progress indicators, a government survey measuring system preparedness in terms of governance; legislation; public budget; financing mechanisms; regulations and standards; collaborations and initiatives; service provision coverage; workforce availability; and training.
Key figures
- The need for assistive products is expected to grow to over 3.5 billion people by 2050.
- Large gaps in service provision and trained workforce for assistive technology were reported from many countries, especially in the domains of cognition, communication, and self care.
- 63 out of 70 countries have measures to cover users’ assistive technology costs fully or partly.
Summary data for the progress indicators, by country
GHO ASSISTIVETECH XTABLE TEMPLATE M COUNTRY 1x1 TIME x IND
Assistive technology indicators
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Assistive technology: use of assistive products, prevalence (%)
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Assistive technology: need of assistive products, prevalence (%)
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Assistive technology: met need of assistive products, prevalence (%)
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Assistive technology products barriers to access
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Assistive technology: sources of assistive products (%)
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Assistive technology products funding (%)
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Assistive technology: travel distance to obtain assistive products (%)
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Assistive technology: satisfaction with assistive products for different environments and activities (%)
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Assistive technology: satisfaction with assistive products and related services (%)
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Assistive technology: legislation on access to assistive technology, existence
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Assistive technology legislation: coverage of people in need of assistive technology by a national or other legislation(s)
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Assistive technology public funding, availability
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Assistive technology responsible ministry/authority, existence
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Assistive technology government/registered services, availability
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Assistive technology: workforce availability for
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Assistive technology education/training, availability
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Assistive technology: financial mechanisms for assistive technology, existence
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Assistive technology, regulations/standards/guidelines/protocols, existence
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Assistive technology: initiatives/collaborations on assistive tech, existence