Financial inclusion and health outcomes in sustainability research through a global bibliometric analysis of trends and future directions

Fragmentation in the literature on financial inclusion and health outcomes hampers the development of integrated, evidence-based policies critical to advancing sustainability and public health goals. Addressing this gap is essential, as financial inclusion is increasingly recognized as a powerful driver of socioeconomic resilience and equitable health access—core tenets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This study systematically applies bibliometric analysis to 63 carefully selected articles from an initial pool of 3437 publications (2005–2024) sourced from the Scopus database, with the aim of synthesizing current knowledge and identifying research gaps at this nexus. The results reveal a significant surge in interdisciplinary research interest, particularly following recent global disruptions, and highlight three dominant, interconnected themes: healthcare accessibility, financial resilience, and socioeconomic equity. Despite growing international collaboration, notable regional disparities persist, and the integration of digital financial services in health remains underexplored. Bibliometric methods uniquely enable the mapping of these trends, the identification of influential knowledge clusters, and the exposure of fragmentation that limits actionable progress. The implications of these findings are twofold: they provide policymakers and researchers with a strategic framework for fostering inclusive financial ecosystems that reinforce resilient and sustainable health systems, and they chart a novel path for future inquiry into digital innovation, gender equity, and region-specific interventions. This work stands out as one of the first comprehensive syntheses of this interdisciplinary field, offering a practical roadmap for translating research into more sustainable, equitable health and financial policies.