SOCIAL INNOVATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH: COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES FOR POPULATION WELL-BEING

Abstract

This article aimed to understand how social innovation has been used as a strategy to promote public health, based on the analysis of national and international experiences that integrate community participation, accessible technology, and intersectoral articulation. The methodology adopted was a narrative literature review, with searches in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus and Cochrane databases, using descriptors such as “social innovation”, “public health” and “health equity”. 8 studies published between 2015 and 2025 were selected. The results revealed that social innovations in health have significant impacts on expanding access to services, strengthening communities, and reducing health inequalities. Hybrid models, service co-design, the use of simple technologies, and collaborative networks proved effective. However, challenges such as financial sustainability, impact evaluation, and technical training remain. It is concluded that social innovation represents a promising path for the structural transformation of the health system, promoting equitable and sustainable solutions based on community protagonism and social justice.