Healthcare as a development engineJagrič, Timotej (Avtor) Zubović, Jovan (Avtor) Zdravković, Aleksandar (Avtor) Herman, Aljaž (Avtor) economic developmenteconomic footprintgovernment policyhealth sectorinput– output tablesmultipliersIn low- and middle-income countries like Serbia, improving access to healthcare is a central objective of social and development policy, closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). However, healthcare expenditure is still frequently perceived as a fiscal cost rather than as a productive investment. Serbia, an middle-income country with a predominantly publicly financed healthcare system, offers a relevant case for examining how expanding healthcare access is intertwined with domestic economic structures and inclusive development outcomes.20262026-06-09 10:09:50Znanstveno delo98388UDK: 614.2:330.35(497.11)COBISS_ID: 279065091DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1817268ISSN pri članku: 2296-2565sl