Public Health Spending and Health Outcomes: What Are the Strategic Implications for The SADC Region?

Abstract

A well-funded health system is essential to protect people from the financial burden of sickness and allows for efficient responses to public health concerns. It increases the capacity to provide early and preventative interventions, thus being cost-effective. The study objective is to evaluate the effect of public health spending on health outcomes. Specifically, the effect of public health spending on life expectancy at birth and infant mortality. The study utilised the autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) model to determine the link. The study incorporates economic growth, technological advancement, foreign aid and corruption as the moderating variables. The results established that government health spending spurs health outcomes by increasing life expectancy and reducing infant mortality rates. The study established that health outcomes are positively influenced by technological advancement, economic growth and foreign aid. Corruption negatively affects health outcomes. The study recommends strong budgetary support to the health sector, anti-corruption laws and pro-growth policies.