Digital Health Ecosystem Framework to Address Fragmentation of the Health System in South Africa

Abstract

Globally, the healthcare industry is plagued by fragmentation, and this fragmentation of the health system has become one of the major problems facing especially low- and middle-income countries. Likewise, the current health system in South Africa is highly fragmented and segmented, with two-tiered systems characterised by a multiplicity of health information systems. This fragmentation has inhibited the efficient delivery of healthcare services and resulted in limited access to integrated health data across healthcare providers. This paper proposes a Digital Health Ecosystem framework to address fragmentation of the health system in South Africa. A qualitative approach was employed, using desktop-based research. A literature review was conducted to elucidate the need for a framework to address fragmentation of the health system in South Africa. It emerged from the literature that the coexistence of subsystems operating independently contributes to health system fragmentation in South Africa. The proposed framework aims to address the ubiquitous problem of health system fragmentation and to enhance data-sharing capabilities across healthcare facilities. A Digital Health Ecosystem offers capabilities to create a digital environment for cooperation, data sharing and information exchange between a network of healthcare organisations. The technology offers South African healthcare facilities a new way to work seamlessly together to provide multidisciplinary and collaborative healthcare services to patients. Healthcare facilities in South Africa are urged to embrace a Digital Health Ecosystem to improve the safety and quality of healthcare and increase access to and availability of clinical, patient and administrative data.