Building a Better World: Frugal Hospital Information Systems in an Indian State

This paper draws on a case study of the development and use of hospital information systems in a particular state in India. The theoretical framework for the study conceptualises the systems as frugal IS and draws on theories of frugal innovation to analyse their innovative elements. The paper also asks in what way such systems claim to be making a better world, and this is theorized through the use of Amartya Sen’s capability approach. It is argued that the systems enable wider choices for their beneficiaries. Particular outcomes in the case study included strengthening processes to include the disadvantaged, empowering the patient, and making voices count. A key contribution of this paper is the two-part theorization linking innovation to enhanced capabilities, and this could be used to address the value-added of IS innovations in other resource-constrained contexts.