%X The pursuit of a secure, efficient healthcare system responsive to patient needs remains a crucial goal for
developed countries. Governments, grappling with rising healthcare demands, are increasingly turning to
technological innovation as a transformative solution. Healthcare 4.0, integrating cutting-edge industrial tech-
nologies, aims to enhance patient experience, promote health, control costs, and boost clinical satisfaction. The
COVID-19 pandemic has catalysed investments in digitalisation, but the promises of Healthcare 4.0 are still
seemingly unrealized. This is especially true in the Central-Eastern European (CEE) region, particularly in
Hungary, where substantial Industry 4.0 innovation potential intersects with shrinking financial resources, a
challenging political environment, a transitioning healthcare system hindering the widescale transition to
Healthcare 4.0. Thus, this paper aims to explore the macro-environmental factors influencing Healthcare 4.0
adoption in Hungary. Leveraging qualitative content analysis of interviews with 21 Hungarian healthcare
technology startup founders, we aim to map the catalysts and barriers of a Healthcare 4.0 transition using a
PESTLE framework. This explorative study contributes to the literature with valuable insights from the in-
novators’ perspective, serving as a foundation for future policy interventions in the quest for widespread
Healthcare 4.0 implementation
%A  Halmosi PĂŠter
%A  Aranyossy MĂĄrta
%L publicatio33265
%I szte
%V 78
%J TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY
%R MTMT:35053888
%T Exploring macro-environmental catalysts and barriers of healthcare 4.0 transformation in Central-Eastern European countries: A comprehensive study in Hungary
%D 2024