Why is repositioning public health innovation towards a social paradigm necessary? A reflection on the field of public health through the examples of Ebola and Covid-19

Abstract

Health innovations are generally oriented on a techno-economic vision. In this perspective, technologies are seen as an end in themselves, and there is no arrangement between the technical and the social values of innovation. This vision prevails in sanitary crises, in which management is carried out based on the search for punctual, reactive, and technical solutions to remedy a specific problem without a systemic/holistic, sustainable, or proactive approach. This paper attempts to contribute to the literature on the epistemological orientation of innovations in the field of public health. Taking the Covid-19 and Ebola crises as examples, the primary objective is to show how innovation in health is oriented towards a techno-economic paradigm. Second, we propose a repositioning of public health innovation towards a social paradigm that will put more emphasis on the interaction between social and health dimensions in the perspective of social change. We will conclude by highlighting the roles that public health could play in allowing innovations to have more social value, especially during sanitary crises.

The Development of a Systems-Level Approach to Address Adolescent Access to Health Care

“…This perspective of innovation treats technology as an end solution itself and disregards social interactions and dimensions. 15 Individuals or organizations who hold this perspective typically define innovation in terms of target population, delivery mechanisms, or development approach. 16 However, there have been recent calls to reposition public health toward a social paradigm of innovation characterized by systems-level approaches and co-creation with stakeholders.…”

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure—the arts as a vehicle for knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) in public health during a pandemic: a realist-informed developmental evaluation research protocol

“…17 Moreover, the imposition of barrier and coercive measures has exacerbated Indigenous communities' historical fear and mistrust of public authorities. [17][18][19][20] Although the involvement of communities is central to the prevention of infections, 21 some public health authorities, faced with the urgency to act, have not always consulted them, taken their concerns into account or adapted preventive measures to their needs. This can lead to rejection of preventive measures, acts of violence 18 and vaccination resistance.…”

“…In addition to a health system ill-suited to the needs of Indigenous people,14 they had to travel outside of their territory to benefit from support measures during the pandemic, contributing to the spread of COVID-19 in their communities 17. Moreover, the imposition of barrier and coercive measures has exacerbated Indigenous communities’ historical fear and mistrust of public authorities 17–20…”

Decision support techniques in public health policy formulation: bibliometric analysis

“…The world urgently needs more innovation-based solutions to address pressing public health problems (Niang et al, 2021). The development of health policies for the rapid, effective and sustainable implementation of these innovations is crucial if governments are to achieve the health-related sustainable development goals (Pang, 2020).…”