Examination of a Health Production Function: Evidence from South Asian Countries

Abstract

The health production function for South Asian countries has been measured by infant mortality, neonatal mortality, maternal mortality, and life expectancy concerning social, economic, and environmental factors. The study used the panel generalized method of moments (PGMM) and panel fully modified ordinary least square (PFMOLS) methods to consider panel data from 2000 to 2019. The key findings indicate that a higher GDP per capita significantly reduces infant, neonatal, and maternal mortality and increases life expectancy. Similarly, education and health expenditures are vital in advancing health production functions in South Asian countries. Population control, the desired number of physicians, and planned urbanization help to enhance health production functions by raising life expectancy and reducing infant, neonatal, and maternal mortality rates.