A Narrative Review of the Government Wheelchair Provision System in India

Shivani Gupta, Agnes Meershoek and Luc De Witte
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Shivani Gupta: Centre for Inclusive Policy, Puttaparthi 515134, India
Agnes Meershoek: Department of Health, Ethics and Society, University of Maastricht, 6229 HA Maastricht, The Netherlands
Luc De Witte: Health Services Research, The Innovation Centre, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DP, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: Background and aim: India has had a wheelchair-delivery system in place for several years but its impact on users is inadequate. Therefore, this research reviews the system to examine how the right to personal mobility can be served better. Method: this paper undertakes a narrative review of the existing government-aided wheelchair provision system from the perspectives of legislation and implementing agencies, both governmental and non-governmental, through document review and key informant interviews. Results: the results indicate that all steps of the government-funded wheelchair provision system are executed by the same system. Manufacture and supply take place nationally, but wheelchair services are largely absent. Moreover, the right to access mobility devices is not upheld for all users. Conclusion: the established government-aided wheelchair provision system is inadequate in terms of coverage, design, production, supply, and wheelchair services. Therefore, there is a need to reconsider the system by increasing its coverage and creating partnerships between the government, non-governmental agencies, and private agencies to improve access.

Keywords: wheelchair provision; India; wheelchair services; procurement; right to mobility; rural areas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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