A landmark mixed-methods study published in The Lancet Regional Asia has exposed critical gaps in assistive technology (AT) access across Sri Lanka, revealing that age, biological sex, and geographic location interact to create compounded barriers for vulnerable populations. The research demonstrates that current policy frameworks fail to account for these intersecting disadvantages, leaving millions without essential devices and services.
As Sri Lanka’s population ages and urbanization patterns shift, health equity experts warn that fragmented policy approaches are insufficient. The study calls for integrated, evidence-based reforms that recognize AT access not as separate issues of age, gender, or location, but as a unified equity challenge requiring coordinated investment in device provision, maintenance infrastructure, and equitable distribution systems across all regions.
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