Health investment benefits economic development

Abstract

Economic development is good for health but good health also fosters economic growth. WHOs Commission on Macroeconomics and Health has argued persuasively that policymakers would gain more from scarce resources if they invested in both economies and health ideally launching a virtuous circle of growth and human development. The Commission has focused on the urgent public-health crises facing sub-Saharan Africa a region ravaged by HIV/AIDS malaria and tuberculosis and un doubtedly a legitimate focus for global aid efforts. Do the Commissions conclusions have relevance for other low-income and middle-income regions such as eastern Europe and central Asia also burdened by poverty and ill health? Similarly to sub-Saharan Africa eastern Europe and central Asia include many countries with declining life-expectancy. However their economies are different from sub-Saharan Africa because many countries have sub stantial industrial sectors and generally a more developed infrastructure. Eastern Europe and central Asias pattern of health is also different: a far greater share of disease burden is accounted for by complex non-communicable diseases and injuries and thus findings from Africa might not apply directly. Countries in eastern Europe and central Asia are also largely overlooked in the global-health arena receiving much less development assistance for health than might be expected in view of the extent of their health and economic development. (excerpt)