What considerations exist for innovative public health management in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

Abstract

The notion of innovation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution euphoria are not mutually exclusive and require a focused assessment on the readiness of governments around the world. Such assessments are more compelling for developing countries to determine their level of preparedness regarding changing global technological innovations. This is essential since public institutions across the globe are usually faced with a challenge of providing quality goods and services to the citizens. Innovative public health management strategies and approaches are seen as mechanisms that may provide solutions towards service delivery improvement; this also include developing countries such as South Africa. However, as highlighted in this article, public institutions are often characterized by various innovative management impediments and lack of effective innovative management considerations. These challenges are often blamed for untenable approaches to service delivery improvements in the public sector. With a distinct focus on the Department of Health in Limpopo province, this article focuses on the innovative public health management measures necessary for improvement in the public service. This is a necessary sub-national government posture that requires customized interventions regarding the local health needs of Limpopo province. In order to pursue the aforementioned study objective, the current researchers opted for a qualitative research approach. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion were used in succession as data collection strategies. These were conducted on Provincial health managers and District councils as respondents who were considered informative on the utilization of modern innovations. Document analysis was also considered critical for this approach to consider the manner in which the Provincial Department of Health operationalizes its conception of innovation within its systems. The findings highlight a need for innovative interventions, necessary to enhance the provision of public health services within the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.