|
Barriers addressed
|
- Available hearing aids in the market are complex to fit, requiring technician intervention over multiple visits, creating
a significant burden on provision systems and users
- Innovative technologies for screening and diagnosis currently have limited functionality and reach
- Most of the current private sector R&D budget is invested towards high-end products, not products that would better serve
L.M.I.C. users
|
|
Rationale
|
- Early evidence related to innovative technologies for screening, diagnosis, and fitting demonstrates a reduction in barriers
related to personnel, infrastructure, costs and reach of services
- Future generation products have the potential to further simplify service delivery, empower users, and expand access
- Current sales models lead to prohibitive costs for users paying out of pocket; therefore, innovation is required to identify
sales models that reduce out of pocket costs
|
|
Proposed Activities
|
-
Support research and operational evidence generation for innovative devices that can simplify service delivery, including but not limited to screening and diagnostic equipment, self-fitting hearing
aids, and pre-programmable hearing aids.
-
Provide strategic and investment support to existing innovative screening and diagnostic equipment manufacturers to expand reach, increase volumes, and reduce prices.
-
Engage donors to invest in catalytic procurement to incentivise and optimise improved procurement conditions for countries (e.g. adoption of quality standards, consolidated
purchasing, long-term purchase agreements).
|
|
Target Outputs
|
- New evidence around innovative provision, product, and sales models
|
|
Long-term Outcome
|
- New generation technology enables a wider reach of hearing aid service provision
|