Abstract:

Health status has been adjudged critical in enhancing the efficiency and productivity of human and capital resources, hence necessary for attaining and sustaining welfare and growth in the long-run. This study examines the role of health on economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa for the period 1990-2015. It adopted the Solow growth model and estimated it using static panel estimation technique. The evidence from the empirical investigation shows that growth responds to the indicators of health (life expectancy and under-five mortality) negatively in the region. This indicates that the state of health in the region mitigates the growth potential which is directly suggestive that the weak healthcare policies and financing in the region has contributively enhanced the burden of diseases. The study recommends that SSA economies and policy makers in the region ensure more financial allocation and commitment to reducing the burden of preventable diseases in the region and strengthen institutions that are charged with implementation and monitoring of health intervention programmes and ensuring equitable access to healthcare.