Assistive technologies: time for a shift in thinking

Sustainable Development Goal 3—to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages—is a far-off wish for 2·5 billion people. So suggests the first Global Report on Assistive Technology released this week by WHO and UNICEF. The report shows that almost a third of people worldwide have a need for at least one assistive product, and that nearly 1 billion people are denied access, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries, where as low as 3% of the need is currently met.