A Panel Data Approach to the Measurement of Health Technical Efficiency of Sub-Saharan Africa

This study investigates technical efficiency of health production function in Sub-Saharan Africa. For this purpose, a stochastic production frontier model is estimated using fixed-effects panel data method over the period of 2000-2007. More specifically the impact of economic, social, and environmental factors in determining life expectancy at birth, as the dependent variable, is measured and evaluated. Overall, the results justify the important role of policymakers, who their proactive approaches should be given to activities that go beyond the health system to influence the main determinants of health i.e. socioeconomic and environmental factors in preventing infectious diseases, improving life expectancy and aid populations to access available resources.