Health Sector Expenditure and Economic Development in Nigeria

The study determined the correlation between health sector expenditure and economic development in Nigeria. The study adopted ex-post-factor research design. The population of this study was the entire Nigerian economy where the properties of data used for this research were extracted covering 1981 to 2022. Using judgmental sampling technique, a sample of 42years’ period from 1981 to 2022 were used. Time series secondary data obtained basically from the CBN bulletin and world demographic index for a period of 42years (1981 to 2022) were used. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis on the strength of relationship between the predictor and criterion variables (HDI and GDP). Co-integration test was used to determine the long-run effect of the predictor variable on the criterion variables (HDI and GDP). The study disclosed a significant positive relationship between health sector expenditure and economic development in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the co-integration test displayed none existence of long-run relationship between the variables. Consequently, the study further recommended that government should allocate more resources to build and upgrade healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and medical laboratories. Government should also encourage the adoption of health insurance schemes, both public and private, to ensure that more Nigerians have access to affordable healthcare services.