Internet of medical things, policies and geriatrics: An analysis of the national digital health strategy for South Africa 2019–2024 from the policy triangle framework perspective

Abstract

Policies are a cornerstone for the effective implementation of a strategy. In the healthcare context, policies should not only highlight a country's vision towards the provision of healthcare but also identify the mechanisms through which such provision will be dispensed and the target beneficiaries. In addition, information technologies have been acknowledged as important media for healthcare delivery. Moreover, as the world's population is ageing, there is a need for a renewed focus on elderly healthcare. It is in this context that this paper investigated the National Digital Health Strategy for South Africa (2019–2024) concerning the provision of healthcare to the elderly and the use of the Internet of Medical Things in healthcare provision using the Policy Triangle Framework as the theoretical lens. Findings revealed that the country's digital health strategy is comprehensive and, therefore, could be used as a gauge for the formulation of electronic health strategies that make provision for the use of emerging technologies in developing countries.

Keywords

• Internet of medical things
• IoMT
• eHealth
• South Africa
• Elderly people
• Geriatrics