Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Health is relevant to human capital, which is the principal input for economic growth and development. Health plays a crucial role in the economic growth of many nations, as the saying goes health is a determinant of human capital. Health is a capital productive assets and an engine of economic growth. The healthcare system in most developing countries such as South Africa, is facing a tough and complex challenges in areas of ageing population, growing prevalence of chronic illnesses and emergency of communicable diseases, which has made it hard to achieve sustained growth. The effect of health inefficiencies has stagnated the economic growth of this region. This paper analyzes the empirical relationship of health and economic growth of selected Sub-Saharan African regions so that the countries would be able to work on the factors that should be built up so as to enhance their economic performance and at the end. The following questions are answered: In what ways has the prevalence of chronic illness impacted the economic growth in these selected Sub-Saharan African regions? Why has the state of health been relatively low despite the policy and effort made toward this goal in these regions? Additionally this paper also proffers few recommendations on ways of improving the health and economic growth of these selected regions and provides suggestions for further studies.