An Analysis of the Economic Impact of the Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital on the Haitian Economy: An Input-Output Approach

This research is the first application of a standard input-output methodology, a well-established method, to assess the effect of a major capital investment on a Social Impact health-care facility in Haiti. Using the input-output methodology, we trace the impact of the operation of the 'Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais' (HUM) on the various sectors of the Haitian economy from food production to manufacturing. The analysis distinguishes among the direct, indirect and induced effects of the operation of the hospital on the economy. Consistent with other results using input/output methods to assess the impact of health care infrastructures, we find that the $16.2 million annual operating costs translates into a total impact on the Haitian economy of over $29 million, an 82 per cent additional output. This analysis indicates, based on the best input-output matrix available, that the Mirebalais hospital has a significant effect on the Haitian economy beyond the impact of health care delivery and number of Haitian health care professionals trained at HUM.