Rethinking Health Priorities In SAARC: An Empirical Assessment Of Outcome Drivers

Abstract

The health of individuals is a fundamental component of their overall well-being and their capacity to contribute meaningfully to society and national development. This study investigates the determinants of health outcomes across the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. Specifically, it examines the impact of ten independent variables on three key health indicators: infant mortality rate, child mortality rate, and total mortality rate. The analysis is based on secondary panel data spanning the period from 1991 to 2023, drawn from the World Bank and World Development Indicators. To evaluate the relationships between the variables, both fixed effects and random effects models were employed. Based on the results of the Hausman test, the random effects model was found to be more appropriate for deriving policy recommendations. One of the most notable findings is the statistically significant negative relationship between the prevalence of HIV and all three mortality indicators, particularly in the case of child mortality, where the association is significant at the 1% level. This underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions. The study recommends that SAARC governments prioritize efforts to reduce HIV prevalence among children under five through timely and effective healthcare policies. Such measures are vital for improving child survival rates and enhancing overall public health outcomes in the region.