Chapter 16: Leveraging Digital Technologies for Disruptive Digital Frugal Innovation Toward Achieving Universal Healthcare Coverage in Africa (UHC)

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) means that all people can access quality essential health services, without having to suffer financial hardship. However, this remains a significant challenge in many parts of Africa, particularly for marginalized populations in hard-to-reach communities as the financial burden continues to be placed on the poor citizens. The rapid advancement of digital technologies has changed the healthcare landscape by introducing new, frugal methods for healthcare delivery, holding the potential to bridge the healthcare gap and enhance access to quality healthcare for marginalized populations. While the notion of frugal innovation (FI) is gaining worldwide traction, the application of digital technologies in driving FIs within African healthcare systems remains largely untapped. With this aim, the research conducted a comprehensive literature review and searched for articles that addressed digital technologies in the medical field and technology-enabled disruptive digital frugal innovations (DFIs), particularly in the healthcare sector in Africa from Scopus indexed journals. In addition, the technologies identified are examined with respect to their innovation characteristics. Inclusion and exclusion criterion were clearly defined. The inclusion criteria considered studies that explored digital technologies and their intervention characteristics and DFIs in healthcare. Articles that were excluded from the study consisted of those not written in English, studies that addressed broader aspects of technology without specific emphasis on DFIs in healthcare.