• The World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is jointly launched the first Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT).
•  This report is the culmination of the 71 st World Health Assembly resolution in 2018 to prepare a global report on effective access to assistive technology.

• Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program or product system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities.
• These include a very wide range of technologies and devices such as prosthetics, braces, walkers, special switches, special-purpose computers, screen readers and specialised curricular software.
• Universal assistive technology coverage implies that everyone, everywhere receives the AT that they need without financial or other hardships.
• The WHO launched the Priority Assistive Products List in 2018. 

• Over 2.5 billion individuals require one or more assistive items.
• A billion people are denied access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
• The number of persons in need of
• assistive devices are predicted to reach 3.5 billion by 2050.
• This is because of the aging population and the rising incidence of noncommunicable diseases around the world.
• In the areas of cognition, communication, and self-care, there are significant shortages in service provision and qualified personnel for assistive technology.

Key recommendations:

• Improve access within education, health and social care systems.
• Ensure availability, safety, effectiveness and affordability of assistive products.
• Enlarge, diversify and improve workforce capacity.
• Actively involve users of assistive technology and their families.
• Increase public awareness and combat stigma.