Factors influencing innovation in public healthcare in South Africa: A critical analysis

dc.contributor.authorNkosi, Mbali Rosemary
dc.contributor.supervisorSiriram, Rajenlall
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-08T07:21:29Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.descriptionA research report submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master’s in Engineering, In the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment , School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024
dc.description.abstractHealthcare innovation has proven to reduce morbidity and mortality rates by enhancing healthcare delivery. Most of the South African population depends on the public healthcare system for health needs. The morbidity and mortality rates in South Africa are much higher compared to other middle-income countries in the world. To enhance healthcare delivery in South Africa, understanding the factors that influence innovation in public healthcare is important. Therefore, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing innovation in public healthcare in South Africa and the potential impact of innovation on the country's healthcare system. The main objectives of this study are to determine the level of successfully implemented innovation in public healthcare and the factors influencing it. Existing literature identifies several factors that influence innovation in public healthcare, including design empathy, technological infrastructure, decision-makers, human capital, and organisational culture. This study also investigates the readiness of the public health sector to embrace innovation and the strategies in place for implementing innovation in public healthcare. A gap was identified in the existing literature. There is evidence in literature is that healthcare innovation centres in South Africa and their impact on the adoption of innovation in public healthcare were only covered marginally by existing literature. To bridge this gap, this study provides results on the status of suitable research and development hubs for testing healthcare innovation prototypes in South Africa and their impact on the adoption of innovation in public healthcare. Currently, there are limited health innovation centres in South Africa. This study posits that an increase in the number of healthcare innovation centres would increase evidence-based innovation which would increase the uptake of innovation in public healthcare. A qualitative research approach was used to acquire descriptive information on the factors that influence innovation in healthcare through interviewing participants. Semi-structured interviews were used as the primary instruments of data collection. The interviews were then subjected to a thematic analysis. One of the significant findings of this research is that the lack of funding in public healthcare hinders innovation in the public healthcare system. Also, the rigorous regulatory requirements pertaining to healthcare innovation tend to cause uncertainty and delays, which in turn reduces the funding available for innovative proje
dc.description.submitterMM2025
dc.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.identifier.citationNkosi, Mbali Rosemary. (2024). Factors influencing innovation in public healthcare in South Africa: A critical analysis. [Master's dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WIReDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/45331
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/45331
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
dc.rights© 2024 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
dc.schoolSchool of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering
dc.subjectUCTD
dc.subjectinnovation
dc.subjectpublic healthcare
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subject.primarysdgSDG-3: Good health and well-being
dc.subject.secondarysdgSDG-9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
dc.titleFactors influencing innovation in public healthcare in South Africa: A critical analysis
dc.typeDissertation

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