An exploratory lens in integrating social innovation in public healthcare ecosystem

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The health care system provides hope and livelihoods to its direct customers, who are the patients. The role of social innovation needs to take front and centre stage by authorities and practitioners tasked with decision-making and problem-solving tasks from a strategic perspective. The social innovation realm has demonstrated its ability to accelerate social value within public-oriented institutions. An interpretivism philosophical approach of qualitative methodology predicated on the inductive theory-building approach was undertaken to solicit empirical data from budget decision-making health practitioners. The research presented a thematic analytical evaluation of the data set from twelve participants holding various influential healthcare positions. The study's findings indicated a huge gap in integrating social innovation and associated entrepreneurial mindset. The procurement decision-making of produce and commodities could mitigate the social ills of joblessness, poverty and quality of life. Furthermore, the findings illuminated the lack of systemic resources and investment that could be driven by social innovation and entrepreneurial inclusion from the surrounding SMMEs. The multi-disciplinary approach will have to be a priority. At the same time, a tactically diverse strategic thrust from leadership and management could be a game-changer and a de-risking intervention in bolstering the local economic development for the SMMEs within the agricultural sector value chain.