Health Innovation Ecosystem Research Articles

How Do You Start a Revolution for Systems Medicine in a Health Innovation Ecosystem? Think Orthogonally and Change Assumptions.

This paper defines a revolution as an orthogonal change in direction, a 90-degree perpendicular turn from the status quo ways of thinking, being and doing, so as to create a complete break, an abolitionist rupture with current and past ways of producing knowledge. David Bowie was a relatable example of a revolutionary and orthogonal innovator who completely and courageously broke with the past and the present and opened up new vistas in music and performing arts. The late anthropologist and public intellectual David Graeber also argued that a revolution fundamentally changes the assumptions in a given field of inquiry. Changing the entrenched assumptions that are long ossified, outdated or uncritically internalized by a knowledge community and profession can have multiplying revolutionary effects on downstream knowledge production. Thinking orthogonally to change the prevailing assumptions is indeed a revolutionary act. Orthogonal innovation as described in this paper is not a repackaging of an innovation in a different field. An orthogonal innovation is proposed as coalescence of ideas drawn from orthogonal domains, e.g., epistemologically speaking as in medicine and political theory, with an eye to pave the way for unprecedented social change and innovation. Grounding systems medicine in political determinants of planetary health, to link two fields of inquiry that have remained isolated and orthogonal since the 17th century, is nothing short of a revolution and orthogonal innovation in the making. For systems medicine to be a truly revolutionary field, it ought to acknowledge that there is no single-issue health nor single-issue politics.

How Interactions Among Peripheral and Central Actors Shape Action in Health Innovation Ecosystems.

How Interactions Among Peripheral and Central Actors Shape Action in Health Innovation Ecosystems.

Catalyzing change in the women’s health innovation ecosystem

Catalyzing change in the women’s health innovation ecosystem

Analysing the performance of a health innovation ecosystem in the COVID-19 crisis: complexity and chaos theory perspective

BackgroundThis research delves into the complexity management of collaborative networks and interorganizational systems in the health innovation ecosystem on the basis of a best practice in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. The objective is to offer specific solutions and guidelines to stakeholders in the health innovation ecosystem to control the chaos resulting from unexpected events along the ecosystem development and evolution path.MethodsFor this purpose, the performance of the Health Innovation Ecosystem in Iran (the Every Home is a Health Base plan) has been examined through a detailed and in-depth analysis of events and actions taken using documents, reports and interviews with experts. The practical application of chaos and complex adaptive system features (adaptation, time horizons, edge of chaos, sensitivity to initial conditions, state space and strange attractors) is introduced to identify and manage the transition from a state where the health innovation ecosystem is on the edge of chaos and prone to failure. Data were collected through studying documents, reports and interviews with experts, and then analysed using qualitative content analysis techniques, open and axial coding and metaphors derived from complexity and chaos theories.ResultsThe findings indicate that to understand and embrace the complexity of the health innovation ecosystem throughout its development and evolution and manage and lead it through the edge of chaos towards successful interorganizational systems performance, it is necessary to use gap analysis to achieve consensus, establish a highly interactive governance structure with key stakeholders of the ecosystem, maintain flexibility to control bifurcations (butterfly effect), prevent transforming emergency solutions into standard routines and ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem against future threats by long-term financial security.ConclusionsThis research provides insights into the dynamics of complex health systems and offers strategies for promoting successful innovation through collaborative networks and interorganizational systems in the development and evolution of the health innovation ecosystem. By embracing complexity and chaos, healthcare professionals, policy-makers and researchers can collaboratively address complex challenges and improve outcomes in health network activities. The conclusion section provides guidelines for successfully managing the complexity of the ecosystem and offers suggestions for further research.

An effective model in the health innovation ecosystem: TUSEB technology transfer

An effective model in the health innovation ecosystem: TUSEB technology transfer

Integrating technology, innovation and policy: COVID-19 and HTA

Scientific abstract: The ongoing pandemic of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has adversely affected the health and wealth of nations worldwide. While this negative impact is very visible, it has also resulted in subtle positive growth of innovative health technologies. This article identifies the critical role of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in analyzing innovations in health technology, using a case study from India. The first HTA on COVID-19 health technology from India, using the framework from the recent HTA definition, conducted on the innovative FNCAS9 Editor-Limited Uniform Detection Assay (FELUDA) diagnostic test shows the potential of HTA in health innovations in low and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. Hence, while COVID-19 has opened windows of opportunities for health innovation and entrepreneurship worldwide, HTA can play a critical role in ensuring the smooth confluence of technology, innovation and policy to ensure the positive impact of health innovation in addressing this pandemic and beyond. An integrated systems framework linking HTA with health innovation ecosystem is presented to conceptualize this link.Public interest abstract: The use of HTA for assessing impact of health innovations has been extremely low in India and other LMICs. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its definition of health innovations considers optimizing or improving performance of the health systems as the overarching goal of health innovation. The new definition of HTA also explicitly links the goals of HTA with that of the health systems objectives of efficiency, equity and quality. Technology embodies applicable knowledge that arises out of science, but not all technologies add value to health systems. In this case study, innovation was applied to create a novel technology (FELUDA) to address a void in testing capacity, while HTA was a tool used to assess the impact of this technology for health system and provide evidence for policy. This case study shows the potential for HTA to guide efficient, equitable and ethical policies for societal benefit. It is important that policy makers in LMICs recognize the role of HTA in assessing the value of health innovations and streamline policies based on evidence. A systems approach to HTA and health innovation is needed for optimizing the use of HTA in health innovations.