Strengthening innovation capacity in health and care workforce: A role-based framework for the procurement professionals

Building procurement competencies in the health and care workforce is essential for harnessing innovation in service delivery. This study offers a framework for competency development and highlights the institutional conditions required for effective application. Innovation procurement demands differentiated roles and capabilities aligned with system-wide goals for resilience, digital transformation, and sustainability. The proposed role-based model serves as a practical roadmap for policymakers, public institutions, and training providers to professionalise the procurement workforce and position it as a strategic enabler of health and care transformation.