Relevance for the ISPO World Congress
As PO services mature and have the potential to integrate furrther in the universal health coverage systems, the PO providers, educators, planner and researchers should better understand the emerging trends in health care finance and align accordingly.
Learning objectives
Describe the shift from aid-based prosthetics and orthotics service provision toward development-oriented and investable service models.
• Understanding better universal health coverage, rehabilitation in health systems, and health equity agendas.
• Understanding public-private insurance, social protection, and market-based approaches.
• Integration of PO services with growing middle-income economies while protecting access for underserved populations.
• Positioning PO services for social good and an essential health service.
Learning activities
Proposed Course Structure
1. Setting the context: The changing economic and health-system landscape in Asia-Pacific and other emerging middle-income regions.
2. From charity to sustainability: The case for development-oriented service planning.
3. Is prosthetics and orthotics investable. ROI, social impact, sustainability
4. Integration into health systems: Aligning PO with UHC, rehabilitation care pathways, and social protection.
5. Equity safeguards: Ensuring that investment and sustainability includes the poor
6. Participants identify practical steps for strengthening sustainable PO services in contexts.
Audience interaction
• Short expert presentations on financing, service integration, and market transition.
• Case-based discussion of prosthetics and orthotics services shifting from donor support to national health-system integration.
• Small-group exercise to map stakeholders, payers, and financing pathways for a sustainable service model.
• Facilitated debate on balancing investment, profitability, affordability, and equity.
• Participant reflection on transferable strategies for policy, advocacy, and service development.
