Digital health entrepreneurship in Latin America: a systematic review of evidence, challenges, and lessons learned
Abstract
ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize the scientific evidence on entrepreneurship in digital health in Latin America. Specifically, it sought to characterize the available evidence, identify the countries and types of digital health entrepreneurship investigated, examine the principal challenges and barriers, and synthesize the conclusions and lessons learned reported in the literature.MethodsThe review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. A systematic search was conducted in Scopus on August 20, 2026, without publication-year restrictions. The search combined terms related to entrepreneurship, digital health, and innovation. Studies addressing entrepreneurial activities or initiatives associated with digital health in Latin America were considered eligible. The geographic scope was determined using the OECD classification of Latin American countries. Two research groups independently conducted the screening process. Evidence was synthesized qualitatively because of substantial heterogeneity in countries, technologies, entrepreneurial initiatives, and study contexts.ResultsThe search identified 417 records, of which 17 remained after applying the geographic criterion. Thirteen full-text articles were retrieved and assessed for eligibility, and 10 studies were included in the final synthesis. Evidence was strongly concentrated in Brazil, with limited representation from other Latin American countries. The studies examined diverse forms of entrepreneurship, including startups, corporate innovation, business models, technological initiatives, and multisectoral collaborations. Major challenges included inadequate infrastructure and connectivity, cybersecurity, interoperability, regulatory barriers, limited financial resources, shortages of skilled personnel, organizational resistance, digital literacy, and user trust.ConclusionDigital health entrepreneurship in Latin America is an emerging and heterogeneous field. Its development requires coordinated technological, organizational, regulatory, financial, and social conditions. Further research should address underrepresented countries and evaluate long-term sustainability, scalability, economic performance, healthcare outcomes, and regulatory determinants.
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BibTeX
@article{fernandezbedoya2026digital,
title = {{Digital health entrepreneurship in Latin America: a systematic review of evidence, challenges, and lessons learned}},
author = {Víctor Hugo Fernández-Bedoya and Josefina Amanda Suyo-Vega and Monica Elisa Meneses-La-Riva and Susana Edita Paredes-Díaz and Hitler Giovanni Ocupa-Cabrera and Rosario Violeta Grijalva-Salazar and Percy David Maldonado-Cueva and Johanna de Jesús Stephanie Gago-Chávez},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1990358},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1990358},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Digital health entrepreneurship in Latin America: a systematic review of evidence, challenges, and lessons learned
AU - Víctor Hugo Fernández-Bedoya
AU - Josefina Amanda Suyo-Vega
AU - Monica Elisa Meneses-La-Riva
AU - Susana Edita Paredes-Díaz
AU - Hitler Giovanni Ocupa-Cabrera
AU - Rosario Violeta Grijalva-Salazar
AU - Percy David Maldonado-Cueva
AU - Johanna de Jesús Stephanie Gago-Chávez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/06
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1990358
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1990358
AB - ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize the scientific evidence on entrepreneurship in digital health in Latin America. Specifically, it sought to characterize the available evidence, identify the countries and types of digital health entrepreneurship investigated, examine the principal challenges and barriers, and synthesize the conclusions and lessons learned reported in the literature.MethodsThe review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. A systematic search was conducted in Scopus on August 20, 2026, without publication-year restrictions. The search combined terms related to entrepreneurship, digital health, and innovation. Studies addressing entrepreneurial activities or initiatives associated with digital health in Latin America were considered eligible. The geographic scope was determined using the OECD classification of Latin American countries. Two research groups independently conducted the screening process. Evidence was synthesized qualitatively because of substantial heterogeneity in countries, technologies, entrepreneurial initiatives, and study contexts.ResultsThe search identified 417 records, of which 17 remained after applying the geographic criterion. Thirteen full-text articles were retrieved and assessed for eligibility, and 10 studies were included in the final synthesis. Evidence was strongly concentrated in Brazil, with limited representation from other Latin American countries. The studies examined diverse forms of entrepreneurship, including startups, corporate innovation, business models, technological initiatives, and multisectoral collaborations. Major challenges included inadequate infrastructure and connectivity, cybersecurity, interoperability, regulatory barriers, limited financial resources, shortages of skilled personnel, organizational resistance, digital literacy, and user trust.ConclusionDigital health entrepreneurship in Latin America is an emerging and heterogeneous field. Its development requires coordinated technological, organizational, regulatory, financial, and social conditions. Further research should address underrepresented countries and evaluate long-term sustainability, scalability, economic performance, healthcare outcomes, and regulatory determinants.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -