Introduction on the position WHO is taking on assistive technology with references to technological research, methodological research and data collection - The GATE initiative

1. WHO-GATE initiative
Giulia Oggero | oggerog@who.int
Assistive Technology and Medical Devices Unit
Health Products Policy and Standards
World Health Organization HQ

2. What is assistive technology?
Assistive technology (AT) is an umbrella term covering assistive products and the systems and
services related to its delivery.
Assistive products (AP) maintain and/or improve an individual’s functioning and independence,
thereby promoting health and well-being. Examples include hearing aids, wheelchairs, spectacles, pill
organizers, incontinence products and augmentative communication devices.
Assistive technology supports six (6) functional domains
Vision Hearing Mobility Communication Cognition Environment and self-care
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/assistive-technology

3. Everyone can benefit from using AT
Appropriate AT meet user needs and environmental conditions; is fitted properly,
safe and durable; is available in the country and can be easily obtained, through
quality service provision at the most affordable price.
The people who most need AT
include:
• Older people
• People with disabling health
conditions
• People with noncommunicable
diseases
• People with mental health
conditions
• People with gradual functional
decline
AT are often the first step
towards:
 Getting out of bed and out of
one's house
 Accessing education and
employment
 Escaping from poverty and
hunger
 Greater mobility, freedom
and independence
 Inclusion and participation
 Leading a dignified life

4. • 200 million people with low vision do not have access to AT
• 75 million in need of wheelchairs, yet only 5-15% have access
• 466 million experience hearing loss, only 10% of need is met
The gap…
1 billion people today are in need, but only 1 in 10 have access
By 2050, 2 billion people will be in need

5. WHA 71.8 Resolution on Assistive Technology
(2018)
• To provide the necessary technical and capacity-building support for Member States, aligned with national
priorities, in the development of national assistive technology policies and programmes, including
procurement and financing, regulation, training for health and social services, appropriate service delivery, and
inclusive barrier-free environments.
• By 2021, to prepare a Global report on effective access to assistive technology and Progress Report every 4
years.
Link to the AT resolution: https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA71/A71_R8-en.pdf?ua=1

7. Policy - Global Report on Assistive Technology
(GReAT)
• Develop the report based on the best available
evidence, international experience, with all relevant
units within WHO and all relevant stakeholders.
• Make recommendations for concrete actions that will
improve access to AT, based on the best available
scientific information.
May 2022

8. Policy – AT Assessment (ATA) Toolkit
Need (rATA)
Capacity (ATA-C)
Impact (ATA-I)
Household survey for data
on need, demand and
barriers to access
To evaluate current situation
on AT policy and financing,
procurement, service
provison and workforce.
Indicators to measure impact of
AT on a person’s inclusion,
participation, quality of life, and
realization of human rights.

9. Assistive Technology Capacity Assessment (ATA-C)
It evaluates six areas:
1. Stakeholder – Identify stakeholders, roles and activities
2. Policy – Capture existing AT policies & financing schemes
3. Products – Map availability, quality assurance mechanisms, procurement & supply
processes
4. Personnel – Understand the training, availability & distribution of the workforce
5. Provision – Map provision capacity and service delivery processes
6. People – Identify potential need for AT and understand AT user experiences
ATA-C is a high-level assessment on country capacity to regulate, finance, procure, and provide AT to
meet population need.

10. Household survey to measure population’s need, unmet
need, barrier to access and satisfaction with AT
Supporting materials:
• rATA enumerator
training manual
• Deployment plan
for national survey
Multi-language rATA
questionnaire is
available on paper and
on mobile devices.
Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA)

11. Assistive Technology Impact Assessment (ATA-I)
ATA-I is a survey tool (8-10 questions) to assess the impact of assistive products on persons'
participation, quality of life and economic independence
Q2
• Literature review
• Paper-based version
Q3
• Piloting
• Electronic version
Q4
• Review and publication
• Implementation manual

12. Products – APL & APL 2.0 and national adaptation
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/207694/WHO_EMP_PHI_2016.01_eng.pdf;jsessionid=DD1607E194288D69EE0E7F13F87390A5?sequence=1
24 May 2016
50 priority products

13. Assistive Product Specifications & Procurement Manual
13
To support countries in procuring good
quality and affordable assistive products and
related services.

14. Forexample:Prostheticsand orthotics,intermediate
levelwheelchairs
Specialist ATServices
Forexample:Basiclevel wheelchairs
General ATService delivery
Forexample:Readingglasses,walking aids,
absorbentcontinenceproducts
Simple ATService delivery
Tertiary
Service
(National
Level)
SecondaryService
(DistrictLevel)
Provision - AT embedded within health systems
Complexity
Resources
Training
PrimaryHealth Centre Community Service
(Town /Village level)
+
Screening and referral

15. Provision – Service Standards
Next:
AT Service Standards

16. Personnel - TAP
1
.
4
.
3
.
2
.

17. Personnel – Wheelchair Service Training Packages

18. • Digital and Assistive Technologies for Ageing
(DATA): to sustain individual’s wellbeing and
promote healthy, active and independent living
for ageing population. (DATA article on the
Lancet:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhl/artic
le/PIIS2666-7568(20)30049-0/fulltext)
• AT and Paralympics: MOU between WHO and
IPC to promote access to AT through inclusive
sport.
• AT in humanitarian contexts: mainstream AT
within humanitarian preparedness and
response plans
Other initiatives

19. Useful links
WHO-AT page: https://www.who.int/health-topics/assistive-
technology#tab=tab_1
ATA-Toolkit: https://www.who.int/tools/ata-toolkit
ATA-C: https://mednet-communities.net/gate/ata-c
rATA: https://www.who.int/news-
room/events/detail/2021/02/08/default-calendar/who-online-
master-training-workshop-for-measuring-access-to-assistive-
technology

20. Useful links (2)
WHO Priority Assistive Products List:
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/207694/WHO
_EMP_PHI_2016.01_eng.pdf?sequence=1
Assistive Product Technical Specification:
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/339851/9789
240020283-eng.pdf
Wheelchair service training package:
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/wheelchair-service-
training-package---basic-level

21. WHO GATE Community
https://mednet-communities.net/gate
hank you
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