Building a digital health innovation ecosystem framework through design science research

Abstract

Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem is a relatively new concept, with studies describing it as an ecosystem that allows patients and other healthcare stakeholders take part in the healthcare delivery process using digital health technologies with the inclusion of innovation principles. This paper presents findings of a study which aimed at developing a contextualised Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem framework for the Namibian context. The use of Design Science Research (DSR) in developing the framework is demonstrated through a case study of the development of a Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem framework for Namibia. The study adopted DSR in three evaluative phases which covered the literature study, Delphi method, local and global expert reviews. Through DSR, processes such as literature review, building components and infrastructure for the Namibian context are unearthed. The Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem framework facilitates the use of various existing approaches in a logical manner that incorporates the needs of a specific country, also taking into consideration that each is country context is unique and different, hence, permitting flexibility. The findings of this paper provide useful insights into how a Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem framework may be developed.