Key Facts About Assistive Devices & Technology

Assistive Devices and technology are limited in Bangladesh due to a lack of support, financial constraints, and a poor distribution system. Prevalence of disability: Only 5.6% of people in Bangladesh have a disability of one kind or another. Among the PWDs, the distribution also varied with different aspects, i.e., physiological, location, gender, age, education, etc.

• Assistive Devices and technology can range from physical products such as wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, Orthopedic devices, mobility aids, communication aids, standing devices, prosthetics, white canes, and hearing aids to over 40,000 assistive products (AP) worldwide.
• Most people who use assistive medical devices use more than one product, making integrated services important.
• Globally, more than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive medical device products.
• With an aging global population and a rise in noncommunicable diseases, an estimated 3.5 billion people will need assistive technology by 2050.
• Only 1% of people in Bangladesh have their assistive product needs met.

Overview of Assistive Devices & Technology

• Assistive Devices and technology is an umbrella term for assistive products and their related systems and services.
• Assistive Devices and technology help maintain or improve an individual’s functioning related to cognition, communication, hearing, mobility, self-care, and vision, thus enabling their health, well-being, inclusion, and participation.
• Improving access to assistive technology can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring that no one is left behind. This is done by enabling the inclusion and participation of assistive technology users in their families, communities, and all areas of society, including the political, economic, and social spheres.

Benefit from Assistive Devices and technology

Most people will need assistive technology at some point, especially as they age. While some may require assistive technology temporarily, such as after an accident or illness, others may need it for a more extended period or throughout their lifespan.

Assistive technology is most needed by:

• older people
• children and adults with disabilities
• people with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, stroke, and dementia.

Benefits of Assistive Devices and Technology

Assistive Devices and technology can help people in all aspects of their lives, including education, employment, fitness, leisure, and other everyday activities such as self-care, cooking, and reading.

Assistive Devices and technology can positively impact a person, family, and friends and have broader socioeconomic benefits. For example:

• Early provision of hearing aids for young children supports their development of language and communication skills, limiting negative impacts on their education, future employment, and community participation;
• provision of appropriate wheelchairs facilitates mobility, improving individuals’ access to education and employment while reducing healthcare costs due to a reduction in secondary complications such as pressure sores and contractures;
• therapeutic footwear for diabetes reduces the incidence of foot ulcers, preventing amputations and the associated impact on individuals and burden on healthcare systems and
• The timely provision of assistive technology for older people can improve their independence and safety and enable them to live at home for as long as possible.

Unmet need

This demonstrates considerable inequity in access to assistive technology. As few as 3% of people in some low-income countries were reported to have access to the assistive products they need, compared to 90% in some high-income countries.

Examples of the unmet global need for specific assistive technology include:

• Mobility: of the 80 million people who need a wheelchair, only 5-35% have access to one, depending on the country in which they live and
• Hearing: Globally, 1.5 billion people have hearing loss, yet hearing aid production currently meets less than 10% of the global demand.
• Barriers impacting access to assistive technology include low awareness, high costs, limited physical access, inadequate product range, procurement challenges, workforce capacity gaps, inadequate policy, insufficient funding, infrastructure sector fragmentation, and sociodemographic obstacles.
• 85% of older people have unmet needs for assistive products
• 89–98% of people with functional limitations have unmet needs for assistive products

Assistive Devices and technology within universal health coverage

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development centers on good health and well-being as part of a new development vision. It emphasizes universal health coverage (UHC) to ensure sustainable development for all and that everyone can access the health services needed without financial hardship.

Addressing the unmet need for assistive products is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals, providing UHC, and implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.‘Leaving no one behind means ensuring people with disabilities, the older population, those affected by chronic diseases, and everyone who needs assistive technology are included in society and able to live healthy and dignified lives.

While others pertain to the health sector’s implementation shortfalls, including human resources issues, political interference, monitoring, and supervision, most key informants discussed demand-side barriers, such as sociocultural disinclination, historical mistrust, and lack of empowerment.

What needs to be done?

Assistive devices and technology can help people with disabilities in Bangladesh live independently and participate in society. The WHO and UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Medical Devices (2022) offers recommendations to steer governments and other stakeholders toward universal access to assistive technology. These 10 priority recommendations underline the ongoing efforts to enhance access to assistive technology for all in need.

1. Improve access to assistive technology within all development sectors.
2. Ensure safe, effective, and affordable assistive products.
3. Enhance workforce capacity.
4. Involve users and families in the entire assistive technology access pathway.
5. Raise public awareness and combat stigma regarding assistive technology.
6. Invest in data-driven policy.
7. Foster research and innovation.
8. Develop enabling environments that benefit everyone involved in assistive technology.
9. Include assistive technology in humanitarian responses.
10. Strengthen international cooperation on assistive technology.

Conclusion

Assistive devices and technology play a crucial role in empowering individuals with disabilities, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions to lead independent, dignified, and fulfilling lives. Despite the growing global need, significant disparities in access persist, particularly in low-income countries like Bangladesh. Addressing these inequities requires collaborative efforts to enhance accessibility, affordability, awareness, and innovation in the assistive technology sector. By integrating assistive technology into universal health coverage and development frameworks, we can ensure that no one is left behind in achieving sustainable development goals.

FAQs

What are assistive devices and technology?

Assistive devices and technology include tools, equipment, and services designed to maintain or improve the functional abilities of individuals with disabilities, older adults, and those with chronic health conditions. Examples include wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthetics, and communication aids.

Why is access to assistive technology limited in Bangladesh?

Access is limited due to financial constraints, low awareness, poor distribution systems, lack of workforce capacity, and inadequate policy implementation.

Who benefits most from assistive devices and technology?

Key beneficiaries include older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, stroke, or dementia.

How can assistive technology improve lives?

Assistive technology enhances mobility, communication, and independence, enabling individuals to participate in education, employment, and social activities while reducing healthcare costs.

What are the major barriers to accessing assistive devices globally?

Barriers include high costs, limited availability, sociocultural stigma, inadequate policy frameworks, and workforce shortages.

What steps can be taken to improve access to assistive technology in Bangladesh?

Steps include raising public awareness, fostering innovation, ensuring affordability, enhancing workforce capacity, and including assistive technology in development and healthcare policies.

How does assistive technology align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Assistive technology contributes to SDGs by promoting good health and well-being, reducing inequalities, and ensuring inclusive access to healthcare and development opportunities.