Variables and descriptions.

Affordable health care is often a result of increased government spending on the health sector. Out-of-pocket expenses remain the primary health care funding source in many South Asian nations. Lack of adequate public funding for health services, difficulty in obtaining health insurance, and high out-of-pocket costs can result in indebtedness, reductions in actual consumption, and decreased access to health care services. The study examines life expectancy and health care spending in South Asian countries. The life expectancy of South Asian countries is studied as a health outcome in relation to health care spending, gross national income per capita, and expected years of schooling. This study is based on secondary data from World Bank statistics that covers eight South Asian countries from 2000 to 2021, for a total of 176 pooled time series and cross-sectional observations. The data were analysed using econometric models, including the cross sectional dependency test, panel unit root test, panel co-integration test, vector error correction model, pair-wise Granger causality test, and Wald test statistics. The vector error correction model results indicate that health care spending, anticipated years of schooling, and gross national income per capita have a long-run association with health outcomes. Health care spending, per capita gross national income, and expected years of education have all greatly enhanced life expectancy in South Asian countries. An effective health strategy is necessary to increase people’s healthy life expectancy and well-being. To accomplish this, government may need to promote school enrolment to help people become more health literate and aware of their health outcomes. As a result, persons with more years of schooling have better health, higher levels of well-being, healthier habits, and ultimately, a longer life expectancy. This study will provide an important insight to policymakers in improving health outcomes through targeted and sustained health care spending in South Asia.

可负担的医疗卫生服务往往是政府增加卫生领域支出的产物。在诸多南亚国家，自费支出仍是医疗卫生筹资的主要渠道。医疗卫生服务公共投入不足、医疗保险获取困难以及高额自费成本，可能会导致民众负债、实际消费缩减以及医疗卫生服务可及性降低。本研究聚焦南亚国家的预期寿命与医疗卫生支出，将预期寿命作为健康结局，探讨其与医疗卫生支出、人均国民总收入及预期受教育年限的关联。本研究采用世界银行（World Bank）发布的二手统计数据，样本覆盖2000年至2021年间的8个南亚国家，共计176组混合截面与时序观测值。研究采用计量经济学模型开展数据分析，涵盖截面相关性检验、面板单位根检验、面板协整检验、向量误差修正模型（vector error correction model）、两两格兰杰因果检验（pair-wise Granger causality test）以及沃尔德检验（Wald test）等统计方法。向量误差修正模型结果显示，医疗卫生支出、预期受教育年限与人均国民总收入均与健康结局存在长期均衡关联。医疗卫生支出、人均国民总收入及预期受教育年限均显著提升了南亚国家居民的预期寿命。提升民众的健康预期寿命与福祉水平，亟需完善有效的卫生策略。为此，政府可通过推动入学率提升，助力民众增强健康素养与健康结局认知。换言之，受教育年限更长的人群往往拥有更优的健康状况、更高的福祉水平、更健康的生活习惯，最终预期寿命也更长。本研究将为南亚地区政策制定者通过针对性、持续性的医疗卫生投入改善健康结局提供重要参考依据。