Assessing the Impact of Environmental Quality on Public Health Expenditure Central Asia

Abstract

This study utilizes panel data from 2002 to 2022 in Central Asia to analyze the impact of environmental quality on public health expenditures. This study employs the ARDL model to examine the short-run and long-run relationships between healthcare expenditure and pollution levels, namely carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The data indicate a robust positive correlation between greenhouse gases and healthcare expenditures, demonstrating the effect of environmental pollution on public health. The study examines the relationship between socioeconomic variables, including GDP, death rates, and healthcare expenditures. This study concludes that reversing this trend hinges on improving environmental policy in the energy and industrial sectors. This research contributes to the existing knowledge by analyzing how various environmental elements and economic structures persistently impact health policy evolution in the region.