The Effect of Universal Health Coverage on Health Outcomes: The Case of Türkiye

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effect of Universal Health Coverage practice on life expectancy at birth (as years) in Türkiye. An autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing (ARDL) model was used. The independent variables were the number of physicians (per 1,000 people), the ratio of health expenditures to the gross domestic product, and the Universal Health Coverage practice in the study model. Life expectancy at birth was selected as the dependent variable. The ratio of health expenditures to the gross domestic product (p=0.001) and Universal Health Coverage practice (p=0.011) were found to have statistically significant and positive effects on life expectancy at birth in the long run. Universal Health Coverage practice was also found to have a statistically significant and positive effect on life expectancy at birth in the short run (p=0.001). After ARDL, the robustness of results was tested with Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares, Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares, and Canonical Cointegrating Regressions.