HEALTH EXPENDITURE AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA: DOES GOVERNANCE MATTER?
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Date
2020-12-07
Authors
Njoroge, Cecilia Wambui
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UNIVERSITY OF BOSTWANA
Abstract
Good health is important at both individual and macroeconomic levels, and improving health
outcomes remains a noble goals as enshrined in Sustainable Development Goals. Generalized
Method of Moments is used to examine the relationship between health expenditure and health
outcomes and the role of governance in the effectiveness of health expenditure on health outcomes
in 18 East and Southern African countries. The study results indicate that total, private and public
health expenditure significantly reduce infant mortality, maternal mortality and under-five
mortality rate, but increase in life expectancy significantly. Both public health expenditure and
private health expenditure have the same impact on health outcomes. However, public health
expenditure has a higher impact on health outcomes compared to private health expenditure. In
addition, the study results show that poor governance adversely affects health outcomes, and also
undermines the effectiveness of public health expenditure on health outcomes. The results suggest
the need for governments to increase health spending levels to improve populace health.