International Journal of
eISSN: 2381-1803
Submit manuscript...
Narative Review Volume 19 Issue 3
Health entrepreneurship in Brazil: digital transformation, innovation ecosystems and implications for sustainable local development. A narrative review and documentary analysis from a healthcare management perspective
Robson Paz Vieira
Received: May 06, 2026 | Published: May 22, 2026
Citation: Vieira RP. Health entrepreneurship in Brazil: digital transformation, innovation ecosystems and implications for sustainable local development. A narrative review and documentary analysis from a healthcare management perspective. Int J Complement Alt Med. 2026;19(3):133-136. DOI: 10.15406/ijcam.2026.19.00774
Abstract
Health entrepreneurship has emerged as a strategic component of socioeconomic development in Brazil, particularly in the context of structural transformations intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to analyze the recent evolution of health entrepreneurship in Brazil from a healthcare management perspective, considering labor market dynamics, digital transformation, innovation ecosystems and the emergence of new business models in health services. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative and exploratory approach based on a narrative literature review combined with documentary analysis of secondary data from institutional and scientific sources, including IBGE, GEM, Sebrae, WHO and OECD reports. The findings indicate a gradual transition from necessitydriven entrepreneurship toward opportunity-driven and innovation-oriented initiatives, strongly influenced by telemedicine, digital platforms, data analytics and new forms of service delivery. The results also suggest that health entrepreneurship can contribute to sustainable local development when supported by managerial qualification, institutional coordination, data governance and territorial strategies. The study concludes that health entrepreneurship should not be understood merely as a response to labor market instability, but as a strategic field for innovation, service reorganization and local development in healthcare systems.
Keywords: health entrepreneurship, healthcare management, digital health, innovation ecosystems, sustainable local development, health economics
©2026 Vieira. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.