A systematic literature review of intellectual capital and sustainable development of health care

The healthcare sector is one of the major sectors affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The pandemic brought enormous pressure on the health care sector thus shifting focus on valuing its intellectual capital (IC) and ensuring sustainable development. IC is critical for not only achieving a competitive advantage but also influencing sustainable development. The existing literature remains fragmented and underexposed with relation to IC and sustainable development in the health care sector. To address this issue, this study undertakes a systematic literature review of the IC and sustainable literature specific to the healthcare sector (n = 39). After analysing research articles indexed in Scopus, the findings highlight that publications in this area have been the highest over the last four years and around 50 per cent in the field of business, management, environmental sciences and social science combined. The extant literature has predominantly explored areas falling under three major themes, strategic approach, systems, and performance enhancement. The implications are for the academicians and practitioners to undertake future research agenda emphasizing IC contribution in the sustainable development of the health care sector