The report is informed by primary and secondary research. It includes a literature review of China’s supplier landscape, focusing on suppliers with export experiences to LMICs. A survey was also conducted through the China Assistive Devices and Technology Center for Persons with Disabilities (CADTC) to gather information on suppliers interested in expanding into LMIC markets. Additionally, over 20 suppliers were interviewed and 10 site visits were conducted. Suppliers selected for interviews and site visits were chosen based on their manufacturing capabilities, previous experience in LMICs and interest in expanding into these markets.
In total, 90 suppliers responded to the survey, 66 of whom supply the five priority assistive products (9 supply digital AT, 12 for vision aids (including spectacles), 16 for hearing aids, 20 for prostheses, 31 for wheelchairs and the rest mainly for walking aids and sickbeds). 2
Please note that only a small set of spectacles, such as low-vision products, are classified as assistive products in China; spectacles for myopia and presbyopia do not fall into the AT category. Therefore the survey is not designed to target spectacles suppliers, the data for the spectacles section are mainly derived from desktop research and expert interviews.
2.Note: some manufacturers supply more than one priority assistive product.↩︎