WHA 71.

8 - Progress
Indicators for access to
assistive technology
Background
The 71st World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted resolution WHA71.8 on 26 May 2018. It
urges all Member States to take actions to improve access to assistive technology.
Among others, the resolution requests WHO to prepare the Global Report on access to
Assistive Technology (GReAT) based on the best available scientific evidence and
international experience. It also requests WHO Secretariat to submit progress reports to the
WHA of 2022, 2026, and 2030 on progress made in the implementation of the 71.8 WHA
resolution. Hence, WHO has developed these Progress Indicators to collect high-level
implementation status from the Member States.

Technical information
- The Progress Indicators contain ten key questions based on the 71.8 WHA resolution.
- Questions preceded by an asterisk (*) require a response.

Definitions
The Progress Indicators use selected terms as defined below.

Assistive products Any product external to the human body (including devices,
equipment, instruments or software), especially produced or
generally available, the primary purpose of which is to maintain
or improve an individual’s functioning and independence, and
thereby promote their well-being. Assistive products are also
used to prevent impairments and secondary health conditions.

Assistive technology The application of organized knowledge and skills related to

assistive products, including systems and services. Assistive
technology is a subset of health technology.

Legislation Law or set of laws; legal framework.

Products for Cognition Assistive products to support a person who has difficulties with
thinking, remembering, and learning, including knowing the date
and time and planning daily activities. Examples include pill
organizers and time management products.

Products for Assistive products to support a person who has difficulties with
Communication communication, including helping a person to interact with
others, express their own emotions and needs, and understand
 WHA 71.8 – Progress Indicators | 2

what others are saying. Examples include communication books,

boards and software.

Products for Hearing Assistive products to support a person who has difficulty
hearing or cannot hear at all. Hearing products can help a
person to interact with other people and the environment, by
increasing a person’s hearing or using other senses. Examples
include hearing aids and alarm signallers with light or vibration.

Products for Mobility Assistive products to support a person who has difficulties
moving any body part freely and easily, from sitting upright or
holding objects to walking and climbing stairs. Examples include
adapted cutlery, walking devices, wheelchairs, leg prostheses,
wrist orthoses, therapeutic footwear, portable ramps and grab
bars.

Products for Self-care Assistive products to support a person who has difficulties with
personal care, including eating and drinking, bathing, getting
dressed and going to the toilet. Examples include chairs for
bath/shower/toilet and incontinence products.

Products for Vision Assistive products to support a person who has difficulty seeing
or is blind. Vision products can help a person to see more
clearly, to recognize the environment and access information.
Examples include glasses, magnifiers, braille equipment, talking
or touching watches, and white canes.

Question 1 – Legislation
Q01A
* Does your country have one or more national legislations in place that ensure or help
improve access to assistive technology for people in need? If you select "Other
legislations", please specify which legislations.
HINT: It is likely many sections of government and different Ministries play a key role in the assistive
technology system within the country. It is important to get their involvement to get more complete
information on the assistive technology system in the country. If needed, we also encourage you to
reach out to assistive technology users’ representatives and organizations.

Information
YES NO
not available
A separate legislation on assistive technology ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on health services (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on social services (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on education (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on labour (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on defense (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

 WHA 71.8 – Progress Indicators | 3

Other legislations ☐ ☐ ☐

For each YES response, please provide details including references or weblinks:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Q01B [answer only if your country is a federal state]

* Does your country have one or more legislations in place at the lower federated level that
ensure or help improve access to assistive technology for people in need? (Lower federated
level could be self-governing provinces, states or other regions).

Information
YES NO
not available
A separate legislation on assistive technology ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on health services (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on social services (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on education (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on labour (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

Legislation on defense (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐

Other legislations ☐ ☐ ☐

Question 2 – Population coverage

Q02A [answer only if you checked at least one YES in Q01A or in Q01B]
* Who is covered by the national or other legislation(s) marked in response to Question 1?

Information
YES NO
not available
People with difficulties in Cognition ☐ ☐ ☐

People with difficulties in Communication ☐ ☐ ☐

People with difficulties in Hearing ☐ ☐ ☐

People with difficulties in Mobility ☐ ☐ ☐

People with difficulties in Self-care ☐ ☐ ☐

People with difficulties in Vision ☐ ☐ ☐

 WHA 71.8 – Progress Indicators | 4

If applicable, please add other specific groups covered by legislation(s) marked in Question
1:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Question 3 – Budget
Q03A
* Were finances in the latest public budgets at national level allocated for the provision of
assistive technology? If you select "In other budgets", please specify which budgets.

Information
YES NO
not available
In a separate budget for assistive technology ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under health services (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under social services (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under education (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under labour (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under defense (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In other budgets ☐ ☐ ☐

For each YES response, please provide details including references or weblinks:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Q03B [answer only if your country is a federal state]

* Were finances in the latest public budgets at the lower federated level allocated for the
provision of assistive technology? (Lower federated level could be self-governing provinces,
states or other regions).

Information
YES NO
not available
In a separate budget for assistive technology ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under health services (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under social services (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under education (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under labour (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In the budget under defense (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
In other budgets ☐ ☐ ☐
 WHA 71.8 – Progress Indicators | 5

Question 4 - Responsible Ministries/authorities

Q04A
* Which ministries/authorities are responsible for ensuring or improving access to assistive
technology? If you select "Others", please specify which ministries/authorities.

Information
YES NO
not available
Health (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
Social (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
Education (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
Labour (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
Defense (or similar) ☐ ☐ ☐
Others ☐ ☐ ☐

For each YES response, please provide details including references or weblinks:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Question 5 - Geographic coverage

Q05A
* In how many of its districts or similar tertiary administrative units does your country have
government or registered services in place that provide assistive technology? Enter your
answer in digits. If the information is not available, please write NA.
HINT: In this question we use the term "district" to refer to the most peripheral unit of local
government and administration that has comprehensive powers and responsibilities. It is okay if your
country uses a different term to refer to the most peripheral unit of local government and
administration.

Total number of districts (or similar) in your country

Number of districts (or similar) which have services for the provision of
assistive technology related to Cognition
Number of districts (or similar) which have services for the provision of
assistive technology related to Communication
Number of districts (or similar) which have services for the provision of
assistive technology related to Hearing
Number of districts (or similar) which have services for the provision of
assistive technology related to Mobility
Number of districts (or similar) which have services for the provision of
assistive technology related to Self-care
Number of districts (or similar) which have services for the provision of
assistive technology related to Vision

For each response, please provide details including references or weblinks:

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
 WHA 71.8 – Progress Indicators | 6

Question 6 - Human resources

Q06A
* For what assistive technology services does your country have an adequate number of
trained human resources at all levels of health and social service delivery?
HINT: We discourage you to overestimate resources available in the country, as doing so will make it
more difficult to track progress in the coming years. If the information is difficult to obtain, please
select the “Information not available” option. The information will be used to guide future initiatives of
WHO and other actors to support countries.

Information
YES NO
not available
☐ ☐
Adequate number of trained human resources
☐
for Cognition
☐ ☐ ☐
Adequate number of trained human resources
for Communication
☐ ☐ ☐
Adequate number of trained human resources
for Hearing
☐ ☐ ☐
Adequate number of trained human resources
for Mobility
☐ ☐ ☐
Adequate number of trained human resources
for Self-care
☐ ☐ ☐
Adequate number of trained human resources
for Vision

For each YES response, please provide details including references or weblinks:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Question 7 - Education and training

Q07A
* Is there education or training covering the assessment, fitting and user training of assistive
products in your country?
HINT: We encourage you to reach out to universities and educational institutions to respond to this
question.

Information
YES NO
not available
☐ ☐
Education/training on assistive products
☐
related to Cognition
☐ ☐ ☐
Education/training on assistive products
related to Communication
☐ ☐ ☐
Education/training on assistive products
related to Hearing
☐ ☐ ☐
Education/training on assistive products
related to Mobility
☐ ☐ ☐
Education/training on assistive products
related to Self-care
 WHA 71.8 – Progress Indicators | 7

☐ ☐ ☐
Education/training on assistive products
related to Vision

For each YES response, please provide details including references or weblinks:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Question 8 - Financial coverage

Q08A
* Which of the following measures does your country have in place at national level to fully
or partly cover users’ costs for accessing assistive technology? If you select "Other
measures", please specify which measures.

Information
YES NO
not available
Public (insurance) schemes ☐ ☐ ☐
Compulsory private insurance schemes ☐ ☐ ☐
Voluntary private insurance schemes ☐ ☐ ☐
A list of safe and effective assistive products
that are subsidized or provided free to people ☐ ☐ ☐
who are eligible
Other measures ☐ ☐ ☐

For each YES response, please provide details including references or weblinks:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Q08B [answer only if your country is a federal state]

* Which of the following measures does your country have in place at the lower federated
level to fully or partly cover users’ costs for assistive technology? (Lower federated level
could be self-governing provinces, states or other regions).

Information
YES NO
not available
Public (insurance) schemes ☐ ☐ ☐
Compulsory private insurance schemes ☐ ☐ ☐
Voluntary private insurance schemes ☐ ☐ ☐
A list of safe and effective assistive products
that are subsidized or provided free to people ☐ ☐ ☐
who are eligible
Other measures ☐ ☐ ☐
 WHA 71.8 – Progress Indicators | 8

Question 9 - Regulations and standards

Q09A
* In which of the following areas does your country have national regulations, standards,
guidelines or protocols in place?

Information
YES NO
not available
Safety of assistive products ☐ ☐ ☐
Procurement of assistive products ☐ ☐ ☐
Delivery of assistive technology services ☐ ☐ ☐
Qualifications of assistive products providers ☐ ☐ ☐
Barrier-free/accessible environments ☐ ☐ ☐
☐ ☐ ☐
Inclusion of assistive products in emergency
preparedness and response programmes
Inclusion of barrier-free/accessible
environments in emergency preparedness and ☐ ☐ ☐
response programmes

For each YES response, please provide details including references or weblinks:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Q09B [answer only if your country is a federal state]

* In which of the following areas does your country have regulations, standards, guidelines
or protocols in place at the lower federated level? (Lower federated level could be self-
governing provinces, states or other regions).
Information
YES NO
not available
Safety of assistive products ☐ ☐ ☐
Procurement of assistive products ☐ ☐ ☐
Delivery of assistive technology services ☐ ☐ ☐
Qualifications of assistive products providers ☐ ☐ ☐
Barrier-free/accessible environments ☐ ☐ ☐
☐ ☐ ☐
Inclusion of assistive products in emergency
preparedness and response programmes
Inclusion of barrier-free/accessible
environments in emergency preparedness and ☐ ☐ ☐
response programmes
 WHA 71.8 – Progress Indicators | 9

Question 10 - Specific initiatives

Q10A
* Which of the following assistive technology-related areas does your country currently
promote, facilitate, support or invest in at national level?

Information
YES NO
not available
Product affordability ☐ ☐ ☐
Product development ☐ ☐ ☐
Product procurement ☐ ☐ ☐
Service delivery capacity ☐ ☐ ☐
☐ ☐ ☐
Collection of data on population-based needs
for products
Information to users and their families ☐ ☐ ☐
☐ ☐ ☐
Participation of users in planning and
monitoring services
☐ ☐ ☐
International collaboration on manufacturing,
procurement or supply of products

For each YES response, please provide details including references or weblinks:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Q10B [answer only if your country is a federal state]

* Which of the following assistive technology-related areas does your country currently
promote, facilitate, support or invest in at the lower federated level? (Lower federated level
could be self-governing provinces, states or other regions).

Information
YES NO
not available
Product affordability ☐ ☐ ☐
Product development ☐ ☐ ☐
Product procurement ☐ ☐ ☐
Service delivery capacity ☐ ☐ ☐
☐ ☐ ☐
Collection of data on population-based needs
for products
Information to users and their families ☐ ☐ ☐
☐ ☐ ☐
Participation of users in planning and
monitoring services
☐ ☐ ☐
International collaboration on manufacturing,
procurement or supply of products

WHO/MHP/HPS/ATM/2022.01 © World Health Organization 2022. Some rights reserved.

This work is available under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence.