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Are Remittances Good for Your Health? Remittances and Nepal’s National Healthcare Policy

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Abstract

We examine the relationship between remittances and healthcare usage in Nepal. Nepal provides an important case study due to the recent introduction of a nationalized healthcare policy with heterogeneity across its districts. We find that remittance income leads to increased expenditures on higher-priced medical care and a higher likelihood of visiting a doctor. The medical spending results are stronger in districts targeted for social healthcare programs. While government initiatives to increase health care appear to be directing those with health needs to receive medical care, public funding or accessibility may be insufficient to adequately treat all needs.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Sarah Pearlman, Nicole Simpson, Anh-Dao Tran, Allan Zebedee, and seminar participants at the University of Rouen and Vassar College for helpful discussion and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, 13617, USA

    Brian Chezum & Cynthia Bansak

  2. Cornerstone Research, Washington, DC, USA

    Animesh Giri

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  1. Brian Chezum
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  2. Cynthia Bansak
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  3. Animesh Giri
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Correspondence to Brian Chezum.

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Chezum, B., Bansak, C. & Giri, A. Are Remittances Good for Your Health? Remittances and Nepal’s National Healthcare Policy. Eastern Econ J 44, 594–615 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41302-018-0106-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41302-018-0106-9

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