Peter Thomas, JD, the National Association of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP) general counsel, traveled to China recently with a U.S. State Department delegation and presented information on the U.S. rehabilitation system, including orthotics and prosthetics, to the China Disabled Persons Federation.
A site visit of a rehabilitation hospital and its O&P clinical department revealed significant similarities and differences in the care provided in the two countries. Consistent with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Rehabilitation 2030, A Call to Action, and the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), China has prioritized rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, according to the NAAOP.
