Health Expenditure, Governance, and SDG3 Nexus in BRICS Economies A 20-Year Longitudinal Analysis (2000–2020)

Now, think about some big and important countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.BRICS Economies We often call them the BRICS countries. They are all working towards making their people healthier. To do this, they spend money on health and try to have good ways of running their countries.

How much money BRICS countries spent on health, how well they were governed, and how healthy their people were – changed over 20 years, from the year 2000 to 2020. It’s like checking in on our BRICS “bodybuilders” to see how their training is going and if they are getting closer to their goal of good health for all.

Why are these three things connected?

Health Spending: This is like the money spent on good food, doctor visits, and medicines. If a country spends more wisely on these things, it can help its people stay healthier and fight off sickness.

Good Governance: This is like having a good coach who makes sure the training plan is right, that the rules are fair, and that everyone is working together properly. BRICS Economies Good governance in a country means that things are run in a clear, honest, and effective way.

This can help make sure that the money spent on health actually reaches the people who need it and that health programs work well.

SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being): This is the goal – a strong and healthy body for everyone in the country. It includes things like fewer people dying young, fewer mothers dying during childbirth, and fewer people getting sick from diseases BRICS Economies.

So, it makes sense that how much money a country spends on health and how well it’s run can have a big impact on how healthy its people are.

What did we look at over 20 years?

We took a close look at the BRICS countries over two decades. This long period helps us see trends – are things getting better, worse, or staying the same? We looked at:

How much money they spent on health: We looked at how much money the governments and other sources spent on keeping people healthy. We also looked at this compared to the size of their economies.

How well they were governed: We used some ways to measure how good the governance was in each country. This includes things like how stable the government was, how effective it was, how much people had a say, how well the rule of law was followed, and how little corruption there was.

How healthy their people were: We looked at things like how long people lived, how many young children died, and how many mothers died during childbirth. These are some key ways to see how healthy a population is.

What did we find? Some interesting stories from the BRICS

Looking at the data for these 20 years tells us some interesting stories about the BRICS countries:

More money for health: In general, most BRICS countries started spending more money on health over these 20 years. As their economies grew, they seemed to put more focus on keeping their people healthy. However, the amount they spent compared to the size of their economies varied between the countries.

Governance improvements, but uneven: Some BRICS countries showed improvements in how well they were governed over this time. They might have become more stable, more effective, or less corrupt. However, these improvements weren’t the same for all the countries, and some still faced challenges with governance.

Health progress, but still gaps: When we looked at how healthy people were, we saw progress in most BRICS countries. People were living longer, and fewer children and mothers were dying. This is good news! However, there were still differences between the countries, and some still had bigger health challenges than others BRICS Economies.

The connection is complex: We tried to see if there was a clear link between spending more on health, having better governance, and seeing bigger improvements in health. What we found is that it’s not always a simple “more of this means more of that.” It’s more complex.

governance isn’t good, that money might not be used effectively, and it might not lead to big improvements in health.

On the other hand, even with less spending, a country with very good governance might be able to use its resources very efficiently and see good progress in health BRICS Economies.

Also, things like how rich a country is overall and other social factors (like education and inequality) also play a big role in people’s health.

Let’s look at each BRICS country a bit more:

Brazil: Brazil made progress in health outcomes and increased health spending. Governance also saw some changes over the period.

Russia: Russia’s health situation and governance went through some ups and downs during these 20 years. Health spending also saw changes.

India: India made significant progress in some health areas, like reducing child deaths. Health spending increased, but there are still big challenges. Governance also saw developments.

China: China saw remarkable improvements in both its economy and the health of its people. Health spending increased a lot, and governance also evolved.

South Africa: South Africa faced significant health challenges, including the HIV/AIDS epidemic. BRICS Economies Health spending was relatively high, but governance remained a key area to address.

What does this all mean? Some important takeaways

Money matters, but how it’s used matters more: BRICS Economies Just spending more on health isn’t a guarantee of better health. It’s crucial that the money is used wisely, reaches the people who need it, and supports effective health programs. This is where good governance comes in.

Good rules help everyone: When a country is run well, with clear rules, less corruption, and everyone having a voice, it creates a better environment for health programs to succeed. It builds trust and makes sure resources are used properly.

Health is about more than just doctors and hospitals: While healthcare is important, things like clean water, good food, education, and a fair society also have a huge impact on people’s health. Countries need to think about all these things together.

Each country has its own story: The BRICS countries are all different. They started in different places in 2000 and faced different challenges and opportunities over the next 20 years. BRICS Economies all solution for improving health.

Keeping an eye on progress is key: By looking at these trends over time, we can see what’s working and what’s not. This helps countries learn from each other and adjust their plans to reach the goal of good health for everyone (SDG3).

BRICS Economies

The world has changed a lot since 2020, with things like the COVID-19 pandemic having a big impact on health systems and economies. It will be important to continue to watch how the BRICS Economies and other nations work towards better health for their people in the years to come.

The lessons from this 20-year look at the BRICS Economies remind us that improving health is a long journey that requires not just money, but also good leadership, fair rules, and a focus on the overall well-being of everyone. It’s like our bodybuilder needing the right food, the right coach, and a strong commitment to reach their full potential. The BRICS Economies, and indeed the whole world, are still working towards that goal of a healthy future for all.