Rehabilitation equipment includes wheelchairs, walking aids, etc. The development potential of the medical equipment industry is huge. The materials for physical therapy and rehabilitation include massage machines, massage chairs, massage beds, etc. With the increasing improvement of domestic consumers' living standards, the development of the rehabilitation equipment industry has great prospects in the future.

From prosthetics to rehabilitation aids

From the installation of the first pair of prosthetic orthoses for disabled soldiers in 1942 to the end of the 20th century, prosthetic orthoses have been the main product and industry focus of China's rehabilitation aids. In 2006, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China established the National Research Center for Rehabilitation Aids on the basis of the Institute of Prosthetics. In the same year, the China Disabled Persons Development and Supply Station was renamed the China Disabled Persons Auxiliary Equipment Center. In 2007, the Chinese Association of Prosthetic Orthopedics changed its name to the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Devices, marking the formal transformation of the Chinese orthopedics industry into the rehabilitation assistive device industry.

Statistical data show that with the gradual establishment of the market economy, the number of manufacturing enterprises of rehabilitation aids in China has increased from 10 to more than 400, the number of allocation agencies has increased from 41 to more than 2000, and the number of employees has increased from more than 4500 to more than 10000. At the same time, the number of products has also multiplied. Each year, China produces more than 65000 prosthetic limbs, more than 110000 orthopedic shoes, more than 120000 orthopedic appliances, and more than 3 million wheelchairs. A number of internationally popular modern rehabilitation aids have been promoted and applied in China.

The initial service object of rehabilitation aids was the revolutionary disabled servicemen. At present, the service object of the industry has expanded to all physically and mentally disabled people, such as the ordinary disabled, the elderly, the injured, and so on. The products have also developed to meet the needs of the disabled in work, life, communication and health. At the same time, China has issued 101 national standards and 5 industrial standards in the field of rehabilitation assistive devices, covering 8 categories of standards, including basic standards, method standards and facility standards, and has initially established the standardization system of rehabilitation assistive devices in China.

A few days ago, Dou Yupei, deputy minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, introduced that in recent years, the civil affairs department has strengthened the industrial management of rehabilitation assistive devices. With the approval of the State Council, it has established the qualification certification system of prosthetic and orthosis (auxiliary devices) manufacturing and assembly enterprises and the professional qualification registration system of prosthetic and orthosis (auxiliary devices) manufacturers.

By the end of 2013, China's elderly population over 60 years old will exceed 200 million, including 37.5 million disabled elderly. There are 85 million disabled people in China. According to the second national sample survey of disabled people, the service rate of rehabilitation aids is only 7.31%. " Dou Yupei said that China has now become the country with the largest market potential and the fastest growing demand for rehabilitation assistive devices in the world, and has a broad market development prospect.