TITLE:
Does Fiscal Decentralization Improve the Delivery of Public Health Services in Cameroon?
AUTHORS:
Martin Christy Abiaya’a, Tatiana Gaelle Timba, Jean Hugues Nlom, Marcellin Ndong Ntah
KEYWORDS:
Cameroon, Health, Fiscal Decentralization
JOURNAL NAME:
Theoretical Economics Letters,
Vol.16 No.2,
April
3,
2026
ABSTRACT: The objective of this research is to analyze the effect of fiscal decentralization on the provision of health services at the level of Decentralized Territorial Collectivities (CTDs) in Cameroon. To this end, econometric modeling using generalized least squares (GLS), the Driscoll and Kraay estimator, and Lewbel’s instrumental variables estimator will be employed. Is being called upon in a panel of 107 municipalities for the period 2010-2020, the investigations revealed that fiscal decentralization significantly and positively improves the delivery of public health services in Cameroon. An increase of one unit in fiscal decentralization leads to a significant increase in the number of integrated health centers (IHCs) as well as the number of buildings constructed in Cameroonian municipalities. It is therefore desirable that public authorities continue to promote fiscal decentralization, while emphasizing the health expenditures necessary for human capital development.