Assessing the Impact of Health Partner Interventions on Community Health Expenditure and Opportunity Costs in Garam Chashma, Chitral

Abstract

Healthcare interventions play a crucial role in improving community well-being, reducing healthcare-related expenses, and minimizing opportunity costs associated with accessing medical services. This study examines the impact of Health Partner Interventions (HPI) on community health, healthcare expenditure, and opportunity costs in Garam Chashma, Chitral. A total of 160 questionnaires were distributed among community members, ensuring diverse representation of the target population. Structural Equation Modeling (SmartPLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships between HPI and key variables, including Healthcare Expenditure, Community Health Outcomes (CHO), Healthcare Accessibility (HA), and Opportunity Costs (OC). The findings reveal that Health Partner Interventions significantly contribute to improving Community Health Outcomes by enhancing the availability and quality of healthcare services. Additionally, the results indicate a positive relationship between HPI and Healthcare Accessibility, suggesting that these interventions reduce barriers to medical services, such as geographical and financial constraints. Moreover, the study highlights a positive impact on Opportunity Costs, demonstrating that improved healthcare accessibility and efficiency lead to reduced indirect costs, such as time lost in seeking medical care and additional expenses incurred due to limited local healthcare facilities. These insights are particularly valuable for health partners and local government authorities in Garam Chashma, emphasizing the need to strengthen healthcare interventions and policies. This study highlights the role of health partnerships in sustainable healthcare development.