Health Business Management in the Digital Era: A Comparative Study of Public and Private Sector Perspectives on the Development of Healthcare Services for an Ageing Society

Abstract

This article presents a conceptual and experiential analysis comparing the operational approaches and strategic directions of public and private hospitals through the in-depth interviews with executives and key personnel. The results revealed that public hospitals focus on creating social value and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services, whereas private hospitals emphasize building competitive advantages and expanding niche markets, particularly among older adults and international patients. The analysis across ten key dimensions revealed distinct structural and strategic differences between the two sectors. However, both share common priorities in promoting holistic elderly care, developing integrated personnel competencies—especially human-oriented (soft) skills—and applying technology to enhance service quality. These findings provide important insights for designing health business management curricula and for preparing the healthcare workforce in the digital era.