The drama of healthcare democratization in the digital era

The discourse surrounding digitalization trends has prominently featured healthcare, highlighting how interactions among stakeholders can be facilitated through digital devices and platforms. Growing interest in healthcare management has emerged around the opportunities offered by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Significant advancements in knowledge have been provided about the benefits of ICTs for the healthcare sector, including enhanced process efficiency, economic optimization, and social inclusion. However, a large part of the current research tends to overlook the profound impact of the digital era on relational networks within the healthcare ecosystem. To enrich the ongoing discussion about healthcare management dynamics in the digital age, this chapter explores how internet-based platforms are reshaping relationships between healthcare providers and patients. It introduces a systems-thinking-based conceptual model to explain the growing cognitive distance between professional actors and patients, a critical factor for developing sustainable and inclusive managerial approaches to digital health.