Theory of constraints as a driver for frugal innovation in health

Objective of the study: The objective of the research was to identify whether the application of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) reasoning process mobilizes frugal innovation in the process of distributing high value-added oncological drugs, in Brazil.Methodology: Qualitative-descriptive research that, through the collection of primary and secondary data, was applied to content analysis with a priori categorization.Originality/Relevance: The relevance of the research points to the complexity of the parties involved, responsibilities, flows, bottlenecks and losses involved in the distribution process of oncological drugs and the intervention specificities necessary for assertiveness in distribution.Main Results: The alignment of TOC with frugal innovation was evidenced, with regard to the development, production and management of services that present resource constraints, avoiding unnecessary costs.Theoretical/methodological contributions: As contributions to the study, the association and reinforcement in organizational theory and TOC tool with frugal innovation is pointed out, establishing an operational framework for the discussion and proposition of a future agenda on the use of tools that help the decision-making process, particularly in the health context.Social/Management Contributions: The research provides insights into the use of tools associated with the development of frugal innovation in processes and services of government agencies with limited resources and limited budget.