Personalised Co-creation of Locally Produced Prosthetics in Nepal: Case Study 1 – Prosthetic Foot
Dr Ben Oldfrey, RAM CHANDRA THAPA, Ashish Thapa, Bikash Paudel, Amit Bajracharya, Ganga Gurung, Rosemary Gowran, Pratisthit Lal Shrestha, Tigmanshu Bhatnagar, Mark Miodownik, Catherine Holloway
March 28, 2025
Case Studies and Reports
Access to assistive technology (AT) like prosthetics and wheelchairs is limited in low-income countries—just 11% of those in need can access them. In Nepal, this challenge is worsened by difficult terrain, limited imports, and underreported disability rates.
The AT2030 Local Systems Strengthening project, led by the Global Disability Innovation Hub, is building a sustainable, locally driven AT ecosystem in Nepal. By combining global expertise with local innovation, the project is:
- Creating a community of practice to guide AT development,
- Supporting custom product design in Kathmandu,
- Using local materials and digital fabrication to overcome access barriers.
Early success stories include delivering bespoke devices to individuals in need and attracting new funding for digital prosthetic fabrication. This model shows how global-local collaboration can transform AT access in underserved regions.