The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has developed comprehensive national standards for the National List of Essential Assistive Products.
According to official sources, the initiative aims to align Indian benchmarks with global frameworks such as ISO and the WHO Assistive Products List (WHO-APL). The harmonised standards will help ensure that assistive products designed, tested, and deployed in the country meet uniform quality and performance criteria.
Assistive products play a crucial role in improving mobility, communication, functional independence and overall quality of life for elderly individuals and those with functional impairments.