Efficiency of Healthcare Expenditure in the Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Periods

Abstract

Via bibliometric analysis, the research identifies the contextual vectors of the healthcare financial provision effectiveness. Moreover, we broaden the empirical substantiation of panel data regression modelling for 34 European countries. In particular, we define performance of public (budgetary) and private financing to reduce the mortality rate and raise life expectancy in pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. The systematization of existing literature sources and approaches to solving the problem is implemented by means of bibliometric and monographic analysis. Consequently, there are 6 contextual clusters of scientific research on determining the healthcare financial provision effectiveness in the modern science. Within the analysed works, researchers mainly study general prerequisites of the healthcare financial provision effectiveness. The optimal cost formation of medical services for diagnosing and treating diseases is reproduced as well. The issue urgency consists in analysing the efficient patterns of spending various funds to decrease the mortality rate and increase life expectancy in the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. Subsequently, we detect some general parameters of healthcare resistance to counter shocks similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, we show statistical analysis of mortality indexes (total and COVID-19). Among 34 European countries, the highest and lowest efficiency levels were identified within these parameters. The study empirical block constructs 8 regression models on panel data. They differ in dependent (mortality rate or life expectancy) or independent variables (block 1: current and capital healthcare expenditures in GDP; block 2: current healthcare expenditures), and modelling period (pre-pandemic – 2000-2019, pandemic– 2020-2022 or the current period). The modelling results represent financial drivers and change inhibitors of the mortality rate and life expectancy during the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. Therefore, we established the most effective groups of healthcare expenditures, which is based on the country epidemiological situation. The obtained results can be useful for scientists, representatives of state and local authorities.