PUBLIC GOVERNANCE OF THE HIDDEN RISKS OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34132/pard2026.32.10Keywords:
hidden risks of digitalization, healthcare system, public governance of digitalization risks, digital pandemic, orbital-digital vulnerability of the healthcare system, orbital-digital resilience of the healthcare system, digital quarantineAbstract
The article states that the digital transformation of the healthcare system creates new opportunities for improving the accessibility, quality, transparency, and continuity of medical service delivery; however, it simultaneously generates a complex set of risks that are not always evident at the stage of implementing digital technologies. The hidden risks of healthcare digitalization are examined, and the need for their preventive, comprehensive, and coordinated management at the level of public policy is substantiated. It is emphasized that, unlike explicit threats, hidden risks may remain unnoticed at the initial stage of digital technology implementation and may manifest themselves unexpectedly. Particular attention is paid to the phenomenon of a «digital pandemic», the cascading nature of which is reflected in its ability to cause chain disruptions in the functioning of electronic health records, registries, medical information systems, telemedicine services, laboratory platforms, electronic prescriptions, referrals, financing systems, and managerial analytics. It is underlined that the danger of a «digital pandemic» in the context of the development of space-digital infrastructure lies not only in the speed at which digital disruptions spread, but also in their ability to simultaneously affect different levels of the healthcare system. It is emphasized that public risk management related to a «digital pandemic» should be aimed not only at responding after an incident has occurred, but primarily at preventing the cascading spread of threats. It is noted that this requires an integrated digital infrastructure, interoperability standards, data backup mechanisms, independent auditing of digital solutions, a clear distribution of responsibility among healthcare system actors, and personnel training for actions in the event of digital failures. Practical recommendations for public management of the hidden risks associated with the digital transformation of the healthcare system are developed. It is substantiated that the implementation of the proposed recommendations will make it possible to minimize the consequences of a potential «digital pandemic», preserve the trust of patients and healthcare professionals in digital technologies, and ensure the sustainability of the digital transformation of the healthcare system.
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