The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health expenditure: A comparison between Turkey and selected OECD countries

Health refers not only to the absence of disease or disability, but also to the complete mental, physical and social well-being of individuals. Just as there is a positive relationship between health and the well-being of individuals, there is also a positive relationship between economic growth and the level of health of individuals. In fact, the Covid-19 pandemic that emerged in China in December 2019 has been recorded as the first pandemic to cause negative growth in the global economy in the 21st century, while negatively affecting human health worldwide. It has been observed that countries around the world have made huge expenditures to eliminate the effects of the pandemic and restore economic growth and development. For this reason, this study analyses the health expenditures made in Turkey to restore economic growth and development during the Covid-19 pandemic. In order for the data analysed to be meaningful, a comparative analysis of Turkey's health expenditure and OECD countries' health expenditure was carried out. According to the results of the analysis, it is understood that Turkey should increase the share of health expenditure in GDP and per capita health expenditure in order to ensure economic growth and development.