Can you buy a prosthetic on EMI? The critical gaps in assistive technology access for India's disabled

In today’s India, you can purchase a smartphone, car or a house in three clicks, but buying a customised wheelchair, prosthetic limb, or smart hearing aid on EMI remains virtually impossible. As the country strengthens its innovation and technological advancement across sectors, consumer lending completely ignores assistive technology and forces innovative startups down the pipeline of CSR donations to passive beneficiaries. This dynamic denies disabled individuals and senior citizens the power to choose, customise, and demand quality devices essential to their basic independence. Assistive tech must stop being treated as an act of philanthropy and start being financed as vital infrastructure.

Assistive technology access in India

Today, fewer than 10% of people in low- and middle-income countries have access to assistive technology despite needing it. Most persons with disabilities in India live in rural areas, where specialised services and trained professionals remain unevenly distributed. At the same time, India’s ageing population is likely to increase demand for assistive technology in the coming years.

The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India found that more than 30% of older people report difficulty with at least one activity of daily living, including walking, seeing, hearing or self-care. There have been several interventions by the government and civil society organisations to address this gap, but there is a need for a system that fosters awareness with localised solutions.

NCPEDP’s recently launched White Paper calls for a comprehensive policy on assistive technology. The paper identifies weak service networks, limited financing mechanisms, and high costs as major barriers, especially among rural and low-income populations. A device is only useful when it works sustainably for the person using it. A wheelchair that has not been properly assessed or fitted, a hearing aid provided without adequate training, or a prosthetic that cannot be repaired locally can quickly become unusable.

Over the years, winners of the NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards reflect how locally grounded innovation can make assistive solutions more practical for everyday use. Saurabh Sagar Sewa Sansthan provides hi-tech prosthetics and mobility aids in rural India, and Aneesh Karma – an innovator from rural Uttar Pradesh, has developed a user-friendly alternative to conventional callipers that would not always require specialised care. 

Recommended way forward

The fight for inclusion is still about survival and basic needs, with persons with disabilities still bearing the burden of proof, paying GST for essential aids and appliances, and navigating inaccessible systems. Therefore, one-time subsidies cannot address recurring costs of repairs, replacement, and follow-ups.

Insurance coverage, rental models, blended financing and better public procurement can make access more sustainable while reducing financial burden. Given the high healthcare costs and expenses of maintenance of assistive technology borne by families, these costs can be covered under health insurance policies designed for persons with disabilities after IRDAI's notification on coverage for disability, mental health and HIV/AIDS.

There is also a case for building accessibility into the rapidly expanding digital healthcare ecosystem. Telemedicine, online appointments, and digital health information can improve access, but only when these platforms work with screen readers, alternative input devices, and other assistive technologies. Accessibility must be built into the design of these systems, not added after users encounter barriers.

Existing data also only provides partial information on disability prevalence and does not adequately capture functional needs, assistive technology usage, abandonment or outcomes. Without this information, policymakers cannot accurately identify where services are needed or determine whether public spending is improving independence.

India also has an opportunity to turn this challenge into an innovation opportunity. Our assistive technology market is projected to reach $8-10 billion by 2030, while advances in artificial intelligence, sensors, digital platforms and additive manufacturing are creating opportunities for more personalised solutions.

As India moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047, development cannot be measured only by how quickly infrastructure is built or how widely technology spreads. It must also be measured by those who can use that infrastructure and technology independently.

Accessibility is not an act of compassion. It is an infrastructure that enables people to participate in society and the economy, ensuring inclusivity. The task ahead is to ensure that much-needed assistive technology and inclusive healthcare are sustained for each citizen.

The author is the executive director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP). 

 

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.