Sustainable Development Goals for Sub-Saharan Africans' by 2030: A Pathway to Longer Life Expectancy via Higher Health-Care Spending and Low Disease Burdens

Abstract

This article analyzes the total health expenditures nexus life expectancy in 33 sub-Saharan African countries while controlling for HIV, under-five mortality, population growth and malnutrition. By analyzing the World Bank dataset from the year 2000 to 2016, as well as an additional dataset on disease burdens-health expenditure from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation that covers up to year 2019, we are able to suggest four (4) conclusions to policy makers in the region. First, Africa's health budget is mainly reliant on external donors. Losing donors imply that the region will be pushed backwards in its efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Second, rapid population growth in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) raises life expectancy, which is likely to be offset by an increase in non-communicable diseases. Thus, population growth needs to be controlled in the region in order to reduce the risks of disease burdens. Third, covid-19 pandemic has placed an extra burden on health-care systems; leading to higher levels of public debt and constraining the government’s ability to spend on citizen’s health. Fourth, governments in SSA need to increase their health spending by establishing new health financing mechanisms to reduce disease burdens and increase population life expectancy. Failure to do so could prevent sub-Saharan African countries ability to meet SDGs.