The Role of Health in Promoting Economic Sustainability

Abstract

Health has been and remains one of the fundamental concerns of human society. Ever since the time of Hippocrates, who, more than 300 years before our era, set out to empirically diagnose temperament types and identify typological and psychological personality traits, health has been a major topic of interest. Today, health continues to be an important field of research, as the constant evolution of the means and forces of production generates new opportunities and perspectives for the scientific investigation of health-related problems. The article examines the role of health status in promoting economic sustainability, emphasizing the close link between healthy life expectancy and sustainable economic development. A healthy population with higher life expectancy has a greater capacity to contribute to economic growth through an active and productive workforce. Investing in health not only improves the living conditions of the population, but also reduces health care expenditure, with a positive effect on the economy in the long run. Particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to health services is more limited, improving health status and increasing life expectancy can become fundamental drivers for economic sustainability. The article highlights the importance of health policies that support improvements in healthy life expectancy to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future. Health status, economic sustainability, public health, investing in health, life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, health policies. Materials and methods: The research was based on a review of relevant scientific literature and international reports to examine the link between public health status and sustainable economic development. Sources such as the Quality of Life Index by Country Report (Numbeo, 2023), the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) Report and the WHO Health Emergencies Program Report were used to obtain data on life expectancy and health status of the population. The methodology included comparative analysis to identify correlations between public health and economic performance across countries. The extracted data were synthesized to highlight how investments in health can contribute to economic sustainability. Results and conclusions: The importance of the research lies in identifying the link between health and the economy. The authors emphasize that health status, as reflected in life expectancy, directly influences employability and GDP growth. Efficient management of health spending can bring significant benefits, such as improving prevention, promoting healthy lifestyles and increasing quality of life, thus contributing to greater longevity and overall population satisfaction UDC: 314.17:[314.47:614.2](478) Classification JEL: A10, H56, Q57.