Pascal Bijleveld
CEO, ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology
Assistive Technology (AT) enables millions of people to live healthier, more independent, productive, and dignified lives. And by empowering persons with disabilities, the ageing population, and those with chronic conditions, it fosters inclusion and engagement in our societies and economies.
Despite Assistive Technology’s obvious value, however, not nearly enough people have access to the AT that they need. Some 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products, for example, but in low-income countries, just 10 percent of people can access the AT that they need. In some cases, this figure falls to just 3 percent. In contrast, in high-income countries, the average is closer to 90 percent.
So why does this inequity exist? And what can we do about it? One answer is that market failures are an important part of the problem, and correcting these failures will be vital to any sustainable solutions.
Figuring out how to correct these failures has occupied ATscale since its inception and a large part of our time is devoted to figuring out pragmatic answers and finding scalable solutions. With that in mind, we commissioned the Clinton Health Access Initiative to look at individual AT markets in more detail, peeling back the layers to give us a more granular view on pricing, market segmentation, quality issues, and the different companies involved.
We have long known about market failures such as monopoly market power, trade barriers, technological barriers, and asymmetric information, for example. But this report, the first of its kind, expands and deepens that knowledge. It provides us with actionable insights on the most dynamic AT markets.
This report aims to address at least some of those market failures, consolidating a significant amount of market information in one single and easily accessible location. This information will soon also be available online where it will remain easily accessible to government officials, businesses, organizations involved with service provision, AT users and all those at the sharp end of AT supply. Procurement teams can use the information to procure quality items at the most reasonable possible prices. In future iterations, we will expand its scope and depth, building upon this first report to make the available information even more comprehensive.
iiiThis is not the first time that such an approach has been tried. In Indonesia, reducing information asymmetries enabled an 85 percent price drop on treatment for Hepatitis C, for example. But this is the first time that such an approach has been tried for assistive technology.
This report represents a most welcome collaboration therefore, drawing on the expertise and contributions of a very diverse set of stakeholders, including policymakers and development practitioners to innovators and entrepreneurs.
At its core, this report is a call to action – a call to leverage the power of market transparency in shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future. By equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and insights needed to navigate the complexities of the market, we can unlock the full potential of assistive technology as a catalyst for positive change.
For those supplying and procuring assistive products directly, please do keep us in mind. We will always welcome your news and updates on products and prices, and will be glad to include this in our database - when ready - and future reports.
Our hope is that the comprehensive market intelligence in this report is a stepping stone towards enhancing the much needed availability of affordable, high-quality assistive products in LMICs.
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