EYEGLASSES

• Only 36% of the billions who need eyeglasses have access to a quality pair with the right prescription.
• Consumer prices are too high for many.

Reducing import taxes, logistical costs, and distributor or retail margins would make eyeglasses accessible.

HEARING AIDS

• Less than 20% of the hundreds of millions of people with disabling hearing loss can access hearing aids.
• Cost and service provision are major barriers and varies significantly by type/model.

Stakeholders should adopt WHO recommendations 1 on delivery, specifications and quality, and aggregate procurement to improve access.

PROSTHESES

• Less than 20% of the at least 65 million people living with limb amputations can access prostheses.
• Ambiguity of quality standards hinder proliferation of emerging affordable solutions

Increase visibility on quality 2 of emerging affordable solutions.

SCREEN READERS

• Over 85% of people with visual impairments live in low and middle-income countries
• Highly fragmented market with significant disparities in functionality, user experience, and device compatibility

Adopt digital assistive products such as screen readers as essential assistive products along with accessibility standards to address implementation gaps

WHEELCHAIRS

• Less than 35% of the estimated 80 million people who need wheelchairs have them, 65 million of which are in low- and middle-income countries
• High costs and low uptake of suitable designs for low- and middle-income countries limit access

Introduce quality standards and ensure provision of appropriate wheelchairs 3 at country level.

Find out more in the Assistive Products Market Report