Research on the Efficiency of Health Output from Local Healthcare InvestmentsExamining the Dual Moderating Effects of Aging and Environmental Quality

Based on the "Healthy China 2030" strategic framework, this study investigates the relationship between local healthcare investment and health output efficiency using panel data from 31 Chinese provinces (20122022). Through multiple linear regression analysis, we examine the intrinsic linkage between local government healthcare expenditures and health output efficiency, alongside the moderating effects of elderly population proportions by age cohort and environmental quality. Results indicate that increased healthcare spending significantly enhances health output efficiency, with particularly pronounced benefits in central and western regions. Rising aging rates exert an adverse moderating effect, while improved environmental quality positively moderates this relationship. Notably, the proportion of the population aged 7584 most substantially diminishes expenditure efficiency. We recommend flexible allocation of healthcare expenditures based on regional aging patterns and an integrated mechanism linking environmental quality to government performance assessment, thereby optimizing fiscal efficiency and maximizing health output.