ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENDITURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the efficiency of public health spending on a sample of 34 African countries over the period 2008-2016. We used a DEA model with combinations of inputs and outputs to measure efficiency. We thus executed a VRS (variable returns to scale) according to orientation. Then, from the efficiency scores obtained, we performed the simulations on the environmental variables, using the Tobit model in order to better generate and identify the determining factors of efficiency. The results show an inefficiency of public health spending in almost all of the countries studied. The DEA method makes it possible to underline these strong statistical links between inefficient systems and these large masses of deaths due to malaria and diarrhea, which are probably preventable with greater efficiency. The average overall efficiency score is 0.645, which translates for these countries a potential of 35% to improve the results of health services with the same level of expenditure.