Resource Library

Trends in Health Financing and the Private Health Sector in the Middle East and North Africa

In the past several decades, countries in the Middle East and North Africa have made significant improvements in developing their health systems and improving the health status of their populations. However, the region continues to face substantial and diverse political, macroeconomic,social, and health challenges. In 2010–2011, the mass uprisings over high unemployment, poverty, and political repression known as the Arab Spring began in several countries. These events led to a wave of social and political upheaval that had enduring repercussions throughout the region. Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen remain embroiled in prolonged violent conflicts. Other countries are more stable but undergoing significant changes and reforms.

To understand current health financing policies and mechanisms, as well as the current role of the private sector in the health systems of the Middle East, the USAID Middle East Regional Bureau commissioned the Sustaining Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) Plus and Health Finance and Governance (HFG) projects to conduct a review of health financing and the private health sector in the 11 low-and middle-income countries in the region, focusing on the years 2008 to 2017.1 The countries included in this analysis are Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. This review aims to highlight regional trends and identify gaps in information.

Read the short report: Regional Overview

Take a look at the interactive story map.