Table 1: Global need and current provision by NGOs, corporate foundations and social enterprises
Table 2: NGOs providing hearing aids to LMICs
Table 3: Corporate foundations providing hearing aids in LMICs
Table 4: Global procurement services providing hearing aids in LMICs
Table 5: NGOs providing prostheses in LMICs
Table 7: List of countries with priority assistive product lists (APLs) that include smartphones
Table 8: Illustrative NGOs providing spectacles in LMICs
Table 9: NGOs providing wheelchairs in LMICs
Table 10: Social enterprises providing wheelchairs in LMICs
Table 11: Global procurement services providing wheelchairs in LMICs
Table 12: Cost component for spectacles supply
Table 13: Key tax components for spectacles import in Ghana
Table 14: Cost component for hearing aids supply
Table 15: Cost component for prostheses component supply
Table 16: Cost component for wheelchair supply
Figure 1: Global Hearing Aid Unit Sales and annual growth (2018-2023)
Figure 2: Units of prostheses provided by ICRC by region (2021-2023)
Figure 3: HI headquarters’ procurement value for prostheses (2021-2024)
Figure 4: Total units of prostheses delivered by ROMP (2020-2025)
Figure 5: Mobile ownership (per cent of the population)
5Figure 6: Mobile ownership year-over-year growth rate (per cent; 2022-2023, ranked by growth rate)
Figure 7: Aggregated NGO procurement volume for spectacles (2021-2024)
Figure 8: Volume trends for the three NGOs with the highest spectacles dispensing volume (2021-2024)
Figure 9: Example of cost component for spectacles shipment to Bangladesh
6To address these challenges, key recommendations include the following:
12Globally, 1 billion people are unable to access assistive technology that they need [1]. Market failures are a key reason for this, impacting low- and middle-income countries in particular. Information asymmetries are one of the most important market failures: policymakers often have limited visibility of demand in LMICs, the available supply of AT and the complete magnitude of the associated supply costs. These failures disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, underscoring the need for systemic reforms and robust market development to enhance access to priority assistive products, including digital assistive technologies, spectacles, hearing aids, prostheses and wheelchairs.
The Assistive Products Market Report 2025 is a continued effort to mitigate market information gaps and complements the Assistive Products Market Report 2024, which was published by ATscale and CHAI on World Day for Assistive Technology on 4 June 2024 [2]. The 2024 report aimed to address some of these failures by offering a one- stop product guide for buyers, donors and policymakers. This edition complements that report and focuses on the demand landscape for AT, including analysis of procurement by governments, NGOs and corporate foundations. It also presents an in-depth analysis of the price components that affect the cost of supplying assistive products, which in turn influences its demand.
The report is organized into sections:
In addition, it includes three annexes:
Email us at atmarketreport@clintonhealthaccess.org
16WHO estimates the value of the global AT market at between US$26 to US$31 billion, a figure that doubled over last 9 years [3]. According to various market research firms, the market for assistive products is expected to grow significantly over the coming years, with projections indicating year-on-year growth of about 7 to 10 per cent from 2024 to 2030 [4]. However, this figure underrepresents the demand in LMICs, where unmet needs are estimated to be tenfold larger than current demand.
LMICs are expected to drive significant growth in the AT market, propelled by an ageing population, the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases and a growing awareness among governments, donors and consumers about the benefits of AT. For instance, the WHO projects that by 2050, two thirds of the global population aged 60 and above will reside in LMICs [5]. Furthermore, non-communicable diseases disproportionately affect people in LMICs, where more than three quarters of the 31.4 million global deaths occur [6].
17Table 1: Global need and current provision by NGOs, corporate foundations and social enterprises
18| Global procurement service procurement | NA |
| Government procurement (illustrative) |
| Global need | 1.3 billion persons with disabilities would benefit from digital AT |
| Unmet need | Smartphone ownership gap can range from 16% to up to 76% |
Hearing aid helps individuals with hearing loss to listen, communicate and participate more fully in daily activities. Latest estimates reveal that hearing loss affects 1.6 billion people worldwide, of whom 430 million have moderate or higher severity hearing loss [8]. By 2050, the number of people with hearing loss is projected to reach nearly 2.5 billion, of whom 700 million will have moderate or higher severity of hearing loss [8]. Prevalence of hearing loss varies across regions, with 80 per cent living in LMICs [8]. The need is significantly under-tapped despite this growth, with fewer than 20 per cent of people who need hearing solutions currently have access to one [9].
Access to hearing aids is just one component of rehabilitation for people with hearing loss. Counselling, speech and language therapy, hearing aid fittings, follow-ups, provision of repair and spare parts such as batteries are critical for the success of hearing aid rehabilitation programmes. It is important to note that this section focuses solely on the number of hearing aids being provided in LMICs as a measure of demand. 1
The global market for hearing aids has demonstrated consistent growth in recent years, driven by demographic shifts, technological advancements and increasing awareness of hearing health [2]. In 2024, the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association reported a 7.7 per cent increase in global hearing aid sales by the world’s largest hearing instrument manufacturers, bringing the total to 21.8 million units in 2023. This follows a pattern of overall growth in global unit sales (Figure 1) [10]. One should note that the 2020 decline in sales was predominantly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. It does not assess the provision of the hearing aid fittings and services being provided, nor does it consider essential factors such as access to repair, maintenance and spare parts, all vital for ensuring successful outcomes from hearing aids fittings. Readers must reference this report along with WHO’s guidance on hearing aid service delivery approaches for low- and middle-income settings. Additionally, the report does not further segment demand into adult and paediatric hearing aids. ↩︎
Figure 1: Global Hearing Aid Unit Sales and annual growth (2018-2023)
- In 2018, about 16 million units were sold, with a +6.6% increase from the previous year.
- In 2019, sales rose to around 17 million units, a +6.4% increase.
- In 2020, sales dropped sharply to about 14 million units, a -17.2% decrease.
- In 2021, sales rebounded to about 19 million units, a +37.0% increase.
- In 2022, sales increased to about 20 million units, a +4.7% rise.
- In 2023, sales reached about 22 million units, a +7.7% increase.
The graph shows a dip in 2020, followed by a strong recovery and steady growth through 2023.
Despite global growth, demand for hearing aids remains low in LMICs. The WHO estimates that coverage in these regions is less than 3 per cent [11]. This low coverage is in part attributed to the lack of government provision or insurance coverage. Relatively few non-profit organizations are active in this space. Corporate foundations aim to bridge this gap. Mayflower Medical Outreach’s International Humanitarian Hearing Aid Purchasing Programme (IHHAPP) and UNICEF have negotiated more affordable prices and offer procurement services to countries and development organizations respectively.
recommendations for hearing aids specifications and quality [12] , [13] , [14]. Optimal quality at an affordable price, and prior experience with the supplier’s procurement capabilities and reliability are critical factors in supplier and product selection by NGOs.
Table 2: NGOs providing hearing aids to LMICs
| Organization | Christian Blind Mission |
|---|---|
| About | International Christian Development Organization active in 40 countries |
| Volumes (units) | |
| Specifications | |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing |
| Organization | World Wide Hearing |
|---|---|
| About | Non-profit active in Guatemala, the Philippines, Peru and Zimbabwe. |
| Volumes (units) | |
| Specifications | |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing | NA - varies by region |
Corporate foundations are important providers in LMICs. Based on available info, Hear the World Foundation and Starkey Foundation are the two largest donors of hearing aids. Hear the World Foundation donated more than 4,000 units in 2023. 2
Table 3: Corporate foundations providing hearing aids in LMICs
Table 4: Global procurement services providing hearing aids in LMICs
Examples of governments procuring hearing aids:
Governments subsidizing hearing aids:
Globally, it is estimated that 65 million people live with limb amputations, with 60 per cent being lower limb amputations. But fewer than 20 per cent of the people who could benefit from prostheses have access to them [2]. The WHO estimates that the demand for prostheses will continue to grow and double by 2050, particularly in LMICs [15] , driven by population growth, rising trauma incidence and an increase in non- communicable diseases such as diabetes.
The ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Programme appears to be the largest NGO buyer with 22,376 units in 2023 [16]. The largest markets for ICRC are South Asia, the Near and Middle East and East Africa.
29Figure 2: Units of prostheses provided by ICRC by region (2021-2023)
The values for each region and year are as follows:
Europe and Central Asia: 373 (2021), 308 (2022), 108 (2023)
Americas: 785 (2021), 522 (2022), 332 (2023)
West Africa: 1,215 (2021), 1,427 (2022), 1,399 (2023)
North and Central Africa: 1,663 (2021), 1,733 (2022), 1,409 (2023)
Southeast Asia: 2,305 (2021), 3,461 (2022), 3,491 (2023)
Near and Middle East: 4,870 (2021), 4,796 (2022), 4,356 (2023)
ICRC predicts that the total volume of prostheses delivered in 2024 and 2025 will remain at a similar level. Due to a rise in global conflicts and the corresponding rise in humanitarian needs, ICRC is experiencing funding constraints for its global physical rehabilitation programmes. Consequently, the number of prostheses delivered is not expected to grow. In response to the funding constraints, ICRC began exploring new financing models and ended physical rehabilitation projects in 11 countries: Algeria, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Niger, the Philippines, Tanzania and Viet Nam [17]. 3
HI provides rehabilitation services across 42 countries [18]. Its prostheses procurement is mainly decentralized via countries with partial procurement from the headquarters. The data from headquarters procurement show an increase from 2021 to 2024.
Figure 3: HI headquarters’ procurement value for prostheses (2021-2024) 4
4. The data is provided by Humanity & Inclusion. Please note that the 2024 data is only up to the beginning of the year, and more should be expected for the full year. ↩︎
NGOs, such as CURE International, ALTSO and ROMP, each deliver an average of around 500 prostheses per year. These NGOs fully or partially subsidise costs for patients. NGOs indicated that demand has been either steady or increasing over the last five years (see Figure 4). The primary products procured by these NGOs are lower-limb above-knee (AK) and below-knee (BK) sets, with ROMP reporting that over 90 per cent of its procurement is for lower limbs [19]. ALTSO and CURE focus on lower-limb products for children.
Figure 4: Total units of prostheses delivered by ROMP (2020-2025)
Table 5: NGOs providing prostheses in LMICs
32| Organization | ICRC - Physical Rehabilitation Programme |
|---|---|
| About | An ICRC programme established in 1979 to support physical rehabilitation services globally. |
| Volumes (units) | |
| Type | |
| Suppliers |
5. The data were retrieved from September 2024 and therefore does not include the full year funding. ↩︎
| Organization | ICRC - Physical Rehabilitation Programme |
|---|---|
| Reference pricing |
Examples of governments procuring prostheses:
34Examples of governments subsidizing prostheses:
35Smartphones have emerged as an assistive product that may effectively and potentially more affordably meet the needs of persons with disabilities. They offer features that support a wide range of disabilities, including cognitive and sensory impairments, by consolidating functions traditionally handled by separate, more specialised devices. For example, they can integrate screen reading, text-to-speed applications and navigational aids, all on one device [1].
Smartphones are becoming one of the most cost-effective and widely used assistive products [24] , [25] , [26]. In Kenya, for instance, 69 per cent of smartphone owners with visual impairment use mobile internet daily, compared to 56 per cent of owners without a disability [27]. A study by GDI Hub, ATscale and Google is underway to assess the impact of smartphones in these contexts. The study’s preliminary findings across Brazil, India and Kenya indicate that smartphones are “both an enabler in people’s lives and a piece of assistive technology with the potential to replace older forms of stand-alone assistive technology” [28]. This highlights the smartphone’s potential as an enabler of independence for persons with disabilities.
GSMA’s Mobile Internet Connectivity Index estimates the smartphone demand trends in LMICs (see Figure 5) [29]. All countries in scope are seeing notable growth in demand, as evidenced by 10 of the 14 illustrated countries having a year-over-year growth rate of over 2 per cent. However, the trend resembles an inverted bell shape, with slower growth at the extremes of smartphone penetration and higher year-over-year growth in the mid-range. For example, China has a high mobile ownership rate but displays the smallest year-over-year growth. Low-income countries like Ethiopia and Liberia also show relatively small year-over-year growth, under 2 percentage points. Comparatively,
37Figure 5: Mobile ownership (per cent of the population, ranked by ownership rate)
Figure 6: Mobile ownership year-over-year growth rate (per cent; 2022-2023, ranked by growth rate)
While smartphone adoption is growing, disparities exist in access for persons with disabilities. For example, in the United States, 72 per cent of persons with disabilities own a smartphone, compared to 88 per cent of persons without a disability [30]. Among LMICs, the gap can be significant. In countries like Algeria, only about 15 per cent of persons with disabilities own a smartphone, compared to 63 per cent of persons without disabilities. This represents an absolute gap of 48 percentage points, meaning that persons with disabilities have a 76 per cent lower smartphone ownership rate relative to those without disabilities [31].
In addition to smartphone access, there is a lack of understanding on accessibility features. Many persons with disabilities are unaware of the built-in accessibility features of their devices beyond the more widely known tools like video conferencing, or may struggle to use multiple accessibility features simultaneously, highlighting digital literacy as a challenge to adopting smartphones as AT [32]. For example, in Ghana, less than 20 per cent of persons with disabilities are aware of the accessibility features built into their mobile devices [33]. As highlighted in the previous report, product selection also matters, as lower-cost devices are often produced by smaller manufacturers that may not have the capacity to test all accessibility features thoroughly. Experts note that, in such cases, software updates can inadvertently alter or disrupt these features.
CHAI analysis found that governments in LMICs often perceive smartphones as luxury items rather than potential assistive products. This perception limits policy interest and procurement programmes, leading to funding schemes that prioritise specialised equipment, even when smartphone features align with AT requirements. While recent regulatory developments like the European Accessibility Act suggest a shift toward recognizing mainstream consumer technologies like smartphones as assistive tools, this trend has yet to take hold in LMICs [34].
Some LMIC governments have begun recognizing smartphones as assistive products, but few have established direct procurement or subsidy programmes. Based on a survey across 10 LMICs, CHAI found that only three countries procure smartphones for public programmes, as shown in Table 6, but volumes are small. As experts indicated, the limited procurement indicates the nascent stage of LMIC government involvement in this market. Globally, some exceptions exist. Israel and Australia have integrated smartphones in their public funding schemes through technology-agnostic mechanisms that do not prescribe specific devices for different user needs. 7 However, no similar approaches were identified in LMICs.
7. Assistive technology (equipment, technology and devices). National Disability Insurance Scheme, d. ↩︎
Table 7: List of countries with priority assistive product lists (APLs) that include smartphones
40| Country | Smartphone included in APL? |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | No (only simple phones included) |
| Rwanda | Not applicable* |
| South Africa | Not applicable* |
| Zambia | Not applicable* |
*Priority assistive product list does not exist or is in development.
Very few NGOs operate in this sector, and none have international reach, resulting in sparse market data. Experts highlighted that local NGOs, often in collaboration with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) provide smartphones including training, and maintenance. For example, Vision Aid has distributed smartphones for people with visual impairments in India [35]. However, the small number of NGOs engaged in smartphone distribution, and likely the smaller volume of smartphones distributed by each, makes it difficult to capture these data.
Collaboration between mobile network operators (MNOs), governments and NGOs can lower costs and improve distribution. Experts have pointed at MNOs, because of their unique position, as important stakeholders in driving increased accessibility of smartphones. This is echoed by GSMA, which specifically highlights multiple interventions by MNOs, including offering discounted mobile packages to customers with disabilities, and promoting products and services in accessible formats, following the guidelines laid out by the Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative [36]. Experts suggest that strengthening the collaboration efforts between MNOs, OPDs and government can result in more accessible products and services, which will further increase demand for them.
Spectacles compensate for refractive errors, such as myopia (near-sightedness) and presbyopia (age related far-sightedness), hypermetropia and astigmatism. According to WHO’s 2019 World Vision Report, two of the most common refractive errors – myopia and presbyopia – affected 2.6 billion and 1.8 billion people respectively [37]. However, more than 64 per cent of the global population do not have access to appropriate spectacles, with 90 per cent of them living in LMICs [38] , [39]. In addition, there exists gender inequality in access, with the effective coverage of refractive error services (eREC) being 10.4 per cent higher in men than in women [40]. It is recognized that this limited accessibility of spectacles in these regions is often due to the lack of public awareness, the high cost of corrective eyewear and a lack of optometric services [41].
No robust estimates exist on the procurement of spectacles in LMICs, but purchasing is highly fragmented with a significant number of spectacles being paid for out-of- pocket by users. According to EYElliance, in LMICs spectacles provision in 2019 was 80 per cent from the private sector, 19 per cent from the public sector and 1 per cent from NGOs. The private sector in LMICs primarily serves higher-income customer segments. According to an EYElliance analysis in five African countries, the price of spectacles is typically 30-50 per cent higher than what consumers are willing to pay, leaving an access gap for low-income groups. 8 This gap is being filled by NGOs, corporate foundations and social enterprises across LMICs.
The demand for spectacles is rapidly growing due to the following factors: 1) an ageing population and the corresponding increase in presbyopia; 2) lifestyle changes, such as increased screen time leading to a rise in myopia; and 3) a growing policy focus. Global initiatives such as WHO’s launched SPECS 2030 Initiative, which aims to support member States in achieving the 2030 target of a 40 per cent increase in effective refractive error coverage further raise awareness about the importance of spectacles in LMICs [42] , [43].
42Based on available data, the global aggregated NGO procurement volume for spectacles appears to be growing. In 2023, it is estimated that NGOs dispensed at least 9 million spectacles, 9 more than double the volume in 2021. According to estimates from the NGOs interviewed, the volume is expected to exceed 14 million units in 2024.
Figure 7: Aggregated NGO procurement volume for spectacles (2021–2024)
Note: 2024E is the estimated NGO procurement of spectacles in 2024
NGOs with the highest volumes in 2023 include RestoringVision (≈5 million), Sightsavers (≈ 1 million), and CBM (≈0.7 million), accounting for 74 per cent of the total aggregated volume within the NGO market. The combined volume of these three organizations in 2023 increased by 120 per cent over a two-year period. The upward trend is mainly driven by a growing focus on near-vision spectacles. RestoringVision donated 2.5 times more spectacles in 2023 than in 2021. The organization stated that the ready- made nature of near-vision spectacles allows them to quickly scale up distribution when donor funding increases. In 2022, RestoringVision raised US$3.1 million for their programmes which is a 60 per cent increase from 2021 [44].
9. Note: the volume includes NGO self-outreach programmes, procurement on behalf of governments and contributions as part of global initiatives and interventions. ↩︎
Figure 8: Volume trends for the three NGOs with the highest spectacles dispensing volume (2021–2024)
Note: Data for 2024 is not available for CBM at the time of report publication
Table 8: Illustrative NGOs providing spectacles in LMICs
| Organization | Brien Holden Foundation |
|---|---|
| About | Australian eyecare NGO; active in Australia and 5 LMICs. |
| Pairs of spectacles dispensed | |
| Type | |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing |
| Organization | CharityVision |
|---|---|
| About | US NGO focused on restoring curable sight impairment worldwide. Active in 30 countries. |
| Pairs of spectacles dispensed | |
| Type | NA |
| Suppliers | NA |
| Pricing | NA |
10. For 2024, an estimated total of 150,000 spectacles will be dispensed across Brien Holden’s key eye health programmes in Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Viet Nam. Pakistan accounts for 90 per cent of the total, with Papua New Guinea and Viet Nam each contributing around 5 per cent. ↩︎
11. Note: 2021-2023 volume data are retrieved from the organization’s annual reports. The volume data include eye devices, but the details of which devices and their respective percentages are not specified. ↩︎
| Organization | Christian Blind Mission (CBM) |
|---|---|
| About | International Christian NGO active in 40 countries |
| Pairs of spectacles dispensed | |
| Type | |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing | • US$3 - US$55 12 |
| Organization | Fred Hollows Foundation |
|---|---|
| About | Australian NGO focused on treating and preventing vision problems across 25 countries. |
| Pairs of spectacles dispensed | |
| Type | |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing | NA |
12. Note: CBM does not handle procurement directly; their programme implementation partners manage it. Additionally, some of the spectacles they dispense are donated and provided free of charge. ↩︎
| Organization | Light for the World |
|---|---|
| About | NGO committed to disability inclusion and eye health across 9 countries, primarily LMICs |
| Pairs of spectacles dispensed |
14. Note: some spectacles are purchased from suppliers, others are directly donated by suppliers. ↩︎
15. A non-profit organization collaborating with Helen Keller to provide affordable spectacles to garment workers in Bangladesh. ↩︎
| Organization | Light for the World |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing | • Prescription: US$12 - US$16 |
| Organization | Sightsavers |
|---|---|
| About | NGO that prevents sight loss, avoidable blindness and treats eye diseases in 30 countries across Africa and Asia. |
| Pairs of spectacles dispensed | |
| Type |
| Organization | Sightsavers |
|---|---|
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing |
| Organization | VisionSpring |
|---|---|
| About | Social enterprise provides spectacles, vision screening and training across 8 countries. |
| Pairs of spectacles dispensed |
| Organization | VisionSpring |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Suppliers | • Long term contract manufacturer in Bangladesh, China, India, and Vietnam |
| Pricing |
Governments subsidizing spectacles include Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria and Rwanda.
50Wheelchairs enhance personal mobility. They are designed for people who cannot walk or have difficulty walking, enabling them to move around and participate in everyday activities [49]. According to the WHO, approximately 1 per cent of the global population, or 80 million people, require a wheelchair [50]. A significant proportion, around 65 million individuals, is concentrated in LMICs. According to the WHO and UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology, between 65 and 95 per cent of those who need a wheelchair do not have access to one [1]. Appropriate wheelchairs prevent the development of secondary complications that may occur from incorrect device provision, incorrect fitting and poor positioning, such as pressure injuries, fixed postural deformities and loss of function. 19
It is important to note that this report focuses solely on the number of wheelchairs being provided in LMICs as a measure of demand. It does not assess the appropriateness of the wheelchairs being provided, nor does it consider essential factors such as access to repair, maintenance, fitting, training and other critical aspects of service delivery, all of which are vital for ensuring the provision of an appropriate wheelchair. 20
19. An “appropriate wheelchair” as defined by WHO is a wheelchair that meets the following factors:
Personnel involved in each area of wheelchair provision, including funders, procurement and clinical teams, need to have the correct skills and knowledge, underscoring the importance of training for those involved in wheelchair provision. The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals provides a comprehensive wheelchair provider certification programme which provides wheelchair providers with the minimum set of knowledge to assess and prescribe appropriate wheelchairs. Consulting wheelchair users in the region to ascertain appropriateness of services and products being used is critical. ↩︎
20. Readers must reference this report along with WHO’s guidance on provision of manual wheelchairs in less resourced settings. Additionally, the report does not further segment demand into adult and paediatric wheelchairs. The report also does not differentiate between manual and powered wheelchairs, nor does it report on wheelchair accessories such as cushions or postural supports. ↩︎
Wheelchairs are classified into manual and powered variants. Within these, products can provide varying levels of postural support, dependent on the user’s needs. Wheelchair users can be classified as having basic, intermediate or complex needs, depending on their medical condition which may be fast progressing, with different requirements for postural support, customization and time between clinical reviews. Wheelchair requirements vary based on the needs from childhood to young adult and even to old age. Accurate data on the global wheelchair market size remain limited. According to published market reports, manual wheelchairs accounted for over 60 per cent of the revenue share in 2022 [51].
While reliable statistics on the overall LMIC market segmentation are limited, this report applies a consistent methodology to generate indicative estimates. Although these are not comprehensive, they offer a useful approximation of market dynamics and scale of provision. However, donor aid remains an important source of wheelchair procurement. According to WHO, humanitarian crises have steadily increased the demand for assistive products suited for emergencies such as active wheelchairs [52]. However, the funding for wheelchair procurement has shifted. There is now less financial support from bilateral and multilateral donors for direct product procurement, except for emergency humanitarian needs. Instead, funding is increasingly directed toward building national systems for sustainable AT provision. While this shift aims to create long-term solutions, it does not necessarily translate into immediate product procurement, leaving a gap in the availability of assistive products. The effectiveness of system provision work depends upon product availability, and investment in system development needs to be accompanied by ensuring availability and accessibility of assistive products.
53NGO demand for appropriate wheelchairs in LMICs is significant, with an estimated 94,000 units 21 in 2023. The Free Wheelchair Mission stands as the largest global buyer with 63,696 units. The two largest NGO buyers, Free Wheelchair Mission and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Latter-day Saint) Charities have developed custom wheelchairs specifically tailored to the needs of LMICs based on their assessment of an appropriate wheelchair.
Table 9: NGOs providing wheelchairs in LMICs
| Organization | Christian Blind Mission (CBM) |
|---|---|
| About | International Christian Development Organization active in 40 countries |
| Volumes (units) | |
| Type | • Not available |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing | • US$250 - US$600 |
| Organization | Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) |
|---|---|
| About | Nonprofit organization with distribution in 33 countries |
| Volumes (units) |
21. Excluding CBM and ICRC volumes to avoid double counting with demand from FWM, LDS Charities, Motivation, ShonaquipSE and CLASP. ↩︎
| Organization | Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) |
|---|---|
| Type | • Manual: 2 models for rugged conditions |
| Suppliers | • Own-design - contract manufacturing in India and China |
| Pricing | • US$96 including freight |
| Organization | International Committee of the Red Cross |
|---|---|
| About | Nonprofit organization with physical rehabilitation projects in 31 countries |
| Volumes (units) | |
| Type | |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing | Not specified |
| Organization | Walkabout Foundation |
|---|---|
| About | UK and US charity operating primarily in Kenya, Uganda and Haiti |
| Volumes (units) | |
| Type | |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing | • US$70 - US$350 |
Table 10: Social enterprises providing wheelchairs in LMICs
56| Organization | CLASP, a Momentum Wheels for Humanity (MWH) social enterprise |
|---|---|
| Volumes (units) | |
| Type | |
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing | • US$90-US$850 23 |
| Organization | Motivation |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Suppliers | • Contract manufactured in China |
| Pricing | • US$233 – 408 |
Table 11: Global procurement services providing wheelchairs in LMICs
| Organization | CLASP (MWH) |
|---|---|
| About | CLASP serves buyers, NGOs, and governments in LMICs. It has shipped to over 60 countries. |
| Volumes (units) | |
| Type |
| Organization | CLASP (MWH) |
|---|---|
| Suppliers | |
| Pricing | • US$250 – US$600 |
Example of government subsidising wheelchairs:
Table 12: Cost component for spectacles supply
24. Other Associated Costs include the rest associated costs on operations such as quality inspection costs, management costs, clearing + forwarding agent fees, among others. ↩︎
25. Note: Regarding import tax and duties, the cost incurred before in-country, such as freight cost, among others, are also taxable value in any calculation. ↩︎
Table 13: Key tax components for spectacles import in Ghana
Table 14: Cost component for hearing aids supply
26. VAT and import duties can be waived if the organization obtains a waiver and the pre-export verification of conformity (PVOC) to standards in advance. It is also waived for individual with disability importing for personal use. ↩︎
Table 15: Cost component for prostheses component supply 27
27. The data were collected and consolidated from multiple international NGOs that import prostheses. ↩︎
Table 16: Cost component for wheelchair supply
71The following key recommendations can help reduce costs and improve access:
[1] World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2022). Global report on assistive technology. Geneva, at www.unicef.org/reports/global-report-assistive-technology ↩︎
[2] ATscale and Clinton Health Access Initiative (2024). Assistive Products Market Report 2024, at www. atscalepartnership.org/assistive-products-market-report ↩︎
[3] Coherent Market Insights (2025). Assistive Technology Market Analysis, at www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ market-insight/assistive-technology-market-5911 ↩︎
[4] Market Research Future (2025). Assistive Technology Market Research Report, at www.marketresearchfuture.com/ reports/assistive-technology-market-29777 ↩︎
[5] WHO (2024). Factsheet on ageing and health, at www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health ↩︎
[6] WHO (2024). Factsheet on noncommunicable diseases, at www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases ↩︎
[7] Essilor Luxottica (2023), Sustainability Report, at www.essilorluxottica.com/en/cap/content/171882/ ↩︎
[9] Orji, A, Kamenov, K., Dirac, M., Davis, A., Chadha, S. and Vos, T. ‘Global and regional needs, unmet needs and access to hearing aids’. London: International Journal of Audiology; 2020 March. Available from: pubmed.ncbi.nlm. nih.gov/32011190/ ↩︎
[11] ATscale (2020). The case of investing in Assistive Technology, at: www.atscalepartnership.org/investment-case ↩︎
[12] WHO (2016). WHO Priority Assistive Products List, at: iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/207694/WHO_EMP_ PHI_2016.01_eng.pdf?sequence=1 ↩︎
[13] WHO (2017). Preferred profile for hearing-aid technology suitable for low- and middle-income countries, at: iris. who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/258721/9789241512961-eng.pdf?sequence=1 ↩︎
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[17] International Committee of the Red Cross (2023). ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Programme Annual Report 2023. ↩︎
[20] Zambia e-government procurement platform, at: eprocure.zppa.org.zm/epps/cft/prepareViewCfTWS. do?resourceId=9038601 ↩︎
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[30] Americans with disabilities less likely than those without one to have traditional computer, smartphone. Pew Research Center, at www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/09/10/americans-with-disabilities-less-likely-than- those-without-to-own-some-digital-devices/ft_2021-09-10_disabilitydigitaldivide_01-png/ ↩︎
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The annex is documented in a separate PDF and is available via the link here.
28. Note: the market size calculated here includes assistive products for both rehabilitation and disability use. ↩︎
The annex is documented in a separate PDF and is available via the link here.
83