Assistive product specifications and how to use them

This document was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to guide the procurement of assistive products. It is intended primarily for procurement teams working in less-resourced settings. It should be read alongside the WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) publication “A manual for public procurement of assistive products, accessories, spare parts and related services“, which sets out the procurement process in detail, including key steps and good practice.

This document includes 26 assistive product specifications (APS). The assistive products have been chosen from the WHO Priority Assistive Products List. The document addresses six key areas of functional difficulties, with products to assist mobility, hearing, vision, cognition, communication, and self-care. The APS describes the minimum requirements related to technical performance and function that the products should meet for safe and effective use.