Public Health Expenditure and Health Outcomes: A Review

Abstract

The role of government is well recognised in the healthcare sector. Governments alter the delivery of healthcare services via their expenditures to improve the health conditions of the people. This study reviewed literature on the impact of public health expenditure on health outcomes. The study finds that the effect of public health expenditure on health outcomes is inconclusive, even in the last four years. In some developing countries, public health expenditure have led to improvement in health conditions while other countries did record little or no beneficial impact of public health spending. Estimation techniques and control variables have differed as there is no standard methodology for estimating the effectiveness of public health expenditure. Therefore, this study recommends the development of a standardised methodological framework in studying the impact of public health spending on health outcomes. Similarly, research focusing on single country will be of great utility to policymakers.