Original Research
The convergence of systemic threads shaping a future South African healthcare dispensation: A technology management perspective
Submitted: 26 February 2013 | Published: 02 August 2013
About the author(s)
Richard Weeks, Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South AfricaAbstract
Research purpose: The purpose of this paper is gain an understanding of some of the intricacies associated with the management of the transition to a future South African healthcare dispensation, with reference to the convergence of technology, financial healthcare and socio-political systems.
Motivation for the study: South Africa is in the process of implementing the National Health Insurance initiative and the approach adopted will have a significant impact on the business model design.
Research design, approach and method: A multidisciplinary literature study was undertaken. In addition, a limited narrative enquiry was also conducted. Practitioners interviewed were from the healthcare, informatics and management and technology sectors respectively. The research study constituted an insight study – analytically descriptive and not statistical in nature.
Main findings: The literature reflects two very contrasting and different business models of healthcare service provision, namely a primarily curative and preventative stance. Each assumes a very different convergence of technology, healthcare, financial and social systems and consequently gives rise to contrasting business models. The dominant model appears to be based on primary healthcare, with a different technology support infrastructure to the previously-adopted curative approach. It is a model that would also appear to necessitate a complex adaptive management approach, necessitating a bottom-up as opposed to a top-down hierarchal management orientation.
Contribution/Value-add: The National Healthcare Insurance initiative entails a very fundamental restructuring of the healthcare infrastructure. The insights gained from this research study could serve as a source of information and reference for South African institutions that will need to implement such systems in the future.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 8292Total article views: 14987
Crossref Citations
1. A Conceptual Framework for Logistics Management and Project Planning in the Clinical Trials Industry
Emad Sadoon, Uday Venkatadri, Alireza Ghasemi
Logistics vol: 7 issue: 4 first page: 88 year: 2023
doi: 10.3390/logistics7040088