Global Policy and Frameworks for Assistive Technology in Eye Care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56450//JEFI.2025.v3i1Suppl.007Keywords:
Global Policy, WHO, IPEC, Assistive TechnologyAbstract
This chapter examines the global policy landscape for assistive technology (AT) in eye care, analyzing frameworks established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and their implementation across diverse healthcare systems. Drawing from recent literature spanning 2018-2024, this analysis explores the WHO Global Report on Assistive Technology (2022), the Global Cooperation on Assistive Technology (GATE) initiative, and their integration with Vision 2020 and the Integrated People-Centered Eye Care (IPEC) framework. The chapter critically examines policy challenges including accessibility, affordability, and equity gaps across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), regulatory frameworks for emerging digital technologies, and implementation models ranging from community-based delivery to tele-rehabilitation services. Through comparative analysis of case studies from India, The Gambia, and European contexts, this chapter identifies key barriers to AT access and proposes evidence-based policy recommendations for achieving universal health coverage goals in vision care.
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