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‘All countries to enforce WHA resolution for access to assistive technology’
ISLAMABAD: After it was unanimously passed by the World Health Assembly (WHA), all the countries of the world have to implement a resolution calling for improving access to assistive technology for the disabled, elderly and those with non-communicable diseases within four years.
Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) Director General Dr Asad Hafeez told Dawn the resolution was tabled by Pakistan in Geneva and was co-sponsored by 35 countries including China, Germany and USA.
“Now that the resolution has been passed, all 194 countries are bound to take steps to ensure the provision of assistive technology and submit a report to WHA in four years,” he said.
Dr Hafeez added that Pakistan has decided to include assistive technology in the Prime Minister’s National Health Insurance Scheme.
“A mechanism for this is also being prepared at the provincial level. The NHS has been taking the lead role and provincial ministries of social welfare have been supporting us”, he said.
Dr Hafeez added that a new survey will be conducted to see how many people need assistive devices and the provinces will be asked how much they can contribute towards them.
“It is not necessary that these devices will be provided free of cost, but it will ensure that quality devices are provided at affordable rates,” he said.
The primary purpose of assistive devices and technologies is to maintain and improve an individual’s functioning and independence, to facilitate them and enhance their overall well-being.
They can also help prevent impairments and secondary health conditions. Examples of assistive devices and technologies include wheelchairs, prostheses, hearing aids, visual aids and specialised computer software and hardware that increase mobility, hearing, vision or communication capacities.
It is currently estimated that only five to 15pc of the people in low-income and middle-income countries who require such devices and technologies have access to them.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of NHS, the resolution considers that one billion people need assistive technology and that as the global population ages, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases also increases. It says this figure will increase to more than two billion by 2050.
Assistive technology enables and promotes the inclusion, participation and engagement of persons with disabilities, ageing populations and people with co-morbidities in the family, community and all areas of society, including the political, economic and social spheres. About 90pc of those who need assistive technology do not have access to it, thereby having a significant adverse impact on the education, livelihood, health and well-being of individuals, and on families, communities and societies.
The resolution recognized that the inclusion of assistive technology, in line with countries’ national priority and context, into health systems is essential for realizing progress towards the SDG targets relating to universal health coverage.
Dr Hafeez said the passage of the resolution was a major success for Pakistan.
“We have been working hard on this for two years and endorsement by the global community has enhanced the country’s stature besides giving hope to the one billion people who need assistive devices across the globe,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2018
https://www.dawn.com/news/1412251
ISLAMABAD: After it was unanimously passed by the World Health Assembly (WHA), all the countries of the world have to implement a resolution calling for improving access to assistive technology for the disabled, elderly and those with non-communicable diseases within four years.
Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) Director General Dr Asad Hafeez told Dawn the resolution was tabled by Pakistan in Geneva and was co-sponsored by 35 countries including China, Germany and USA.
“Now that the resolution has been passed, all 194 countries are bound to take steps to ensure the provision of assistive technology and submit a report to WHA in four years,” he said.
Dr Hafeez added that Pakistan has decided to include assistive technology in the Prime Minister’s National Health Insurance Scheme.
“A mechanism for this is also being prepared at the provincial level. The NHS has been taking the lead role and provincial ministries of social welfare have been supporting us”, he said.
Dr Hafeez added that a new survey will be conducted to see how many people need assistive devices and the provinces will be asked how much they can contribute towards them.
“It is not necessary that these devices will be provided free of cost, but it will ensure that quality devices are provided at affordable rates,” he said.
The primary purpose of assistive devices and technologies is to maintain and improve an individual’s functioning and independence, to facilitate them and enhance their overall well-being.
They can also help prevent impairments and secondary health conditions. Examples of assistive devices and technologies include wheelchairs, prostheses, hearing aids, visual aids and specialised computer software and hardware that increase mobility, hearing, vision or communication capacities.
It is currently estimated that only five to 15pc of the people in low-income and middle-income countries who require such devices and technologies have access to them.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of NHS, the resolution considers that one billion people need assistive technology and that as the global population ages, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases also increases. It says this figure will increase to more than two billion by 2050.
Assistive technology enables and promotes the inclusion, participation and engagement of persons with disabilities, ageing populations and people with co-morbidities in the family, community and all areas of society, including the political, economic and social spheres. About 90pc of those who need assistive technology do not have access to it, thereby having a significant adverse impact on the education, livelihood, health and well-being of individuals, and on families, communities and societies.
The resolution recognized that the inclusion of assistive technology, in line with countries’ national priority and context, into health systems is essential for realizing progress towards the SDG targets relating to universal health coverage.
Dr Hafeez said the passage of the resolution was a major success for Pakistan.
“We have been working hard on this for two years and endorsement by the global community has enhanced the country’s stature besides giving hope to the one billion people who need assistive devices across the globe,” he said.
Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2018
https://www.dawn.com/news/1412251
