Modelling digital and value flows in e-health

A fair and efficient e-health network is one that provides a common platform to its key stakeholders to facilitate a sharing of information with a view to promoting cooperation and maximizing benefits. A promising platform for this critical application is the emerging ‘cloud technology’ with its offer of computing as a utility. This is an area that has attracted much scholarly attention as it is well-suited to foster such a network bringing together diverse players who would otherwise remain fragmented and be unable to reap benefits that accrue from cooperation. The fundamental premise is that the notion of value in an e-health ecosystem is brought about by the sharing and exchange of digital information. Notwithstanding the potential of information and communication technology to transform the healthcare industry for the better, there are several barriers to its adoption, the most significant one being misaligned incentives for some stakeholders. This thesis suggests among other findings, that e-health in its true sense can become fair and efficient if and only if a regulatory body concerned assumes responsibility as the custodian of its citizens’ health information so that ‘collaboration for value’ will replace ‘competition for revenue’ as the new axiom in delivering the public good of healthcare through digital networks.​Doctor of Philosophy (WKWSCI