The ECODETEC Model: A Conceptual Framework for Analysing the Sustainability and Effectiveness of Health Systems

By the Foundation for Health Studies | 2024

The sustainability of health systems worldwide is increasingly challenged by demographic transitions, economic pressures, and technological advancements. The ECODETEC Model, proposed by the Foundation for Health Studies, emerges as an analytical framework designed to examine and address these complex dynamics. The ECODETEC Model is built upon three interrelated dimensions: Demographic, Economic, and Technological. It draws on the theoretical contributions of key thinkers in each domain, including Fogel and Marmot (demography), North, Sen, and Arrow (economics), and Schwab (technology). ECODETEC highlights the synergistic interaction among these core dimensions, which shape the intricate nature of health system sustainability. The model further extends into an epistemic and methodological interpretation of sustainability—namely, the effectiveness of the system itself. This integrated perspective offers substantial potential for informing the development of adaptive and comprehensive solutions. The ECODETEC Model presents an original and innovative approach to analysing global health challenges. Its systems-oriented perspective underscores the importance of understanding the complex interdependencies between demographic, economic, and technological factors—providing a valuable lens through which to address the sustainability of health systems at a global scale, and in specific contexts such as the Argentine healthcare system.