Healthcare investment in Latin America offers significant economic returns

Experts and recent research highlight the significant economic benefits of investing in preventive healthcare across Latin America. A third phase of the Health Inclusion Index, developed by Economist Impact with support from Haleon, quantifies the potential economic gains from reducing barriers to health for vulnerable populations.

In Colombia, improving health literacy and preventive measures could save the country up to 9.4 trillion pesos annually. Specifically, strengthening musculoskeletal care for women could save over 1 trillion pesos per year, while focusing oral health efforts on low-income populations could reduce dental caries-related costs by up to 15.7 trillion pesos.

During a meeting in Costa Rica, health and economic experts argued that healthcare should be viewed as an investment rather than an expense. They noted that for every dollar invested in certain areas, such as vaccines, returns can reach between $14 and $20. The discussion emphasized that failing to invest in primary care and chronic disease management creates an ‘invisible bill’ through lost productivity and increased long-term costs, particularly as the region faces aging populations and high out-of-pocket expenses.