Health products policy and standards

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Global report on assistive technology

The Global report on assistive technology was developed in response to the World Health Assembly resolution WHA71.8 on improving access to assistive technology adopted in May 2018. Guided by an Expert Advisory Group, the WHO and UNICEF have jointly developed this report collaborating with global assistive technology stakeholders. It presents a comprehensive dataset and analysis of access to assistive technology, drawing the attention of governments and civil society to the need for, and benefit of, assistive technology, including its return on investment. The report sets out ten recommendations for improving access to assistive technology, which will in turn support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, inclusive Universal Health Coverage, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Global report was developed with generous support from the Government of Norway, UK Aid under the AT2030 project led by the Global Disability Innovation (GDI) hub, and ATscale: Global Partnership for Assistive Technology

Watch the launch of the Global report on assistive technology here. Read the press release here.

Download the Global report on assistive technology: summary local print version here.

There is a large, unmet need for assistive technology worldwide. The Global report on assistive technology was developed in response to the World Health...

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Activities and events

The report findings will be discussed and disseminated at the following events:

"Assistive Technologies - Innovations in contrast to financial models", Round Table, Rehab Week 2022, 28 July 2022, 09.45-11.00 CEST, Rotterdam (Netherlands)
"Measuring population access to assistive technology" Inclusion Forum, Joint International Conference on Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology and Accessibility, ICCHP-AATE, 15 July 2022, 10.15-11.55 CEST, Lecco (Italy)
"Population Access to Assistive Technology - Session 8" Joint International Conference on Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology and Accessibility, ICCHP-AATE, 15 July 2022, 08.00-10.00 CEST, Lecco (Italy)
"Population Access to Assistive Technology - Session 7" Joint International Conference on Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology and Accessibility, ICCHP-AATE, 14 July 2022, 16.20- 18.00 CEST, Lecco (Italy)
" The WHO-UNICEF Global report on assistive technology: Moving Forward together" Policy Session, Joint International Conference on Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology and Accessibility, ICCHP-AATE, 14 July 2022, 14.00- 16.00 CEST, Lecco (Italy)
"Assistive Technology - what we know now", COSP15 digital side event co-hosted by WHO, UNICEF, ATScale and GDI Hub, 13 June 2022, 16.00-17.15 CEST
"Launching AT for a Fairer World", UK Parliamentary reception with the Minister of Trade Policy and Global Disability Innovation Hub, 19 May 2022, London (UK)

News

13 June 2022

Departmental update

WHO co-hosts COSP15 Side Event: Assistive Technology - what we know now

16 May 2022

Joint News Release

Almost one billion children and adults with disabilities and older persons in need of assistive technology denied access, according to new report

AT changes lives video

wo older women and one older man and one child walking down a dirt track surrounded by trees. The man is using a walking stick. f

15 May 2022

AT changes lives

Assistive technology data portal

Key messages

An adult is standing with a young person, they are closely looking at a piece of paper and the young person is wearing glasses. Above the image is the text: Today, 2.5 billion people need assistive technology. That's 1 in 3 of us.

The 5P Assistive technology model with people at the centre, surrounded by policy, products, provision and personnel. This is further surrounded by the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and universal health coverage.

Image of a classroom of students working at their desks, a child at the front is working on a tablet with the teacher assisting him. Above the image it says: Assistive technology is a human right. High product costs are in the way.

Image of a woman standing in front of damaged buildings, she is using underarm crutches and one of her legs are absent. #ATchangesLives

Launch event

The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) launched the first Global report on assistive technology (GReAT) on Monday, 16 May 2022.