The role of health in economic growth in Kenya

Abstract

Good health produces healthy people capable of participating in economic, social and political development of a country. Better health improves labour productivity as it reduces production losses caused by worker illness and permits the utilization of national resources that would otherwise become inaccessible because of ill health. Healthy children will also result in enhancement of school enrollment and makes them better able to learn. The main objective of the study was to examine the impact of health on economic growth in Kenya. A Cobb Douglas production function was used to estimate the equation. The study found that morbidity is negatively related to economic growth while life expectancy was found to be insignificant. Education, gross capital formation, population and Labour force are positively related to economic growth in the long run mode', The findings of the study point to the importance of investment in physical capital, education and health in enhancing economic growth in the long run. Policies recommended from the findings of the study include; due to increased cases of morbidity, preventive measures against malaria should be undertaken as it has the highest percentage of disease causing morbidity, increased investment in education, increased gross fixed capital formation and improving labour productivity through improved health status.