The catalytic role of digital divide in sustainable digital transformation practices in healthcare sector

Abstract The accelerated process of digitalization in healthcare systems has brought up enduring disparities in access, skills, and good utilization of digital technologies. The paper presents the Digital Divide Congruence Model (DDCM), an integrated model that aims to learn all three aspects of digital access, digital capital, and digital congruence to support the sustainable and responsible digital transformation of healthcare. Based on the findings of various healthcare users, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to study the direct and indirect links between digital divide, digital competence, digital capital, and digital congruence. The findings demonstrate that digital access will have a great impact on digital capital, whereas the digital divide will have an unfavorable impact on digital capital and congruence. Digital competence was found to mediate this at least in part, enhancing the overall model but digital capital was strongly and positively related with digital congruence. DDCM shows that there is an urgent necessity to integrate digital infrastructure, digital skills, digital culture and strategic orientation to ensure equitable digital adoption within healthcare systems. The framework helps to attain SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by incorporating the principles of responsible innovation into it. The DDCM provides a logical route to healthcare policy-makers, digital strategists, and practitioners to reduce inequalities and enhance digital preparedness as well as to develop inclusive and people-centered digital health ecosystems.