Evolutionary dynamics of digital platform ecosystems in healthcare: A case study of the discovery ecosystem in South Africa

Delivering quality healthcare rests on multiple interactions between several actors. From providers and patients to insurers and policymakers, each contributes to a network of services that promote, maintain, and restore health. Digital platforms are emerging as an innovative approach to facilitate this collaboration. These platforms function as collaborative networks where independent actors integrate resources around a central platform to co-create value. However, despite the promise of digital platforms in healthcare, a critical knowledge gap persists on how actor roles evolve within platform ecosystems. This paper investigates the evolutionary dynamics of digital platform ecosystems in healthcare. The study presents a case study approach to systematically collect and analyse data on the five chronological stages of the Discovery ecosystem development. Through an event history analysis, we focus on (i) actors and roles enacted during ecosystem emergence, (ii) the timing of activities during the evolutionary stages, and (iii) discovery and the evolution of its platform ecosystem. The paper’s findings contribute to understanding actor roles, interactions, role diversity, and ecosystem activities during digital platform development. For managers and practitioners, our study underlines a model for building partnerships with technology providers, financial institutions and other stakeholders to co-create value and improve patient outcomes.