OBJECTIVES: To understand, from a payer and policymaker perspective, emerged trends and to identify insights on key priorities shaping the emerging trends in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries.

METHODS: Based on a survey developed by the Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Arabic Network, data was collected from 40 representatives of the healthcare system of the MENA countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia). ISPOR Arabic Network chapters presidents selected their national participants in governmental and/or semi-governmental bodies responsible for pharmaceutical assessment for pricing and reimbursement decisions. The survey includes four sections. Follow-up e-mails were sent as reminders to non-responders.

RESULTS: A total of nine responses (22%) were received. Heterogeneity was observed in ranking top disease areas driving the trends emerging. The top three disease areas reported by countries surveyed are oncology, cardiology, and endocrinology. Rheumatology/immunology, infectious, renal diseases ranked high as well. Disease prevalence and medical and pharmacy budgets are the key drivers for the ranking by respondents. Health Data, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), and Need for New Business Model were identified as the most selected trends by all respondents (N=9), followed by Healthcare Financing, Public Health, and Value Assessment (N=8), Supply Chain, Staffing Shortages (N=7), Real World Evidence (N=6), Health Equity, Need for New Financing Models (N=5), Telemedicine (N=3), Focus on Rare Diseases, Patient Engagement (N=2), Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Internet of Things (N=1).

CONCLUSIONS: Significant regional variations in disease prevalence and impact on the healthcare budget were identified. Utilizing healthcare data, HTA, and the need for new business models were top trends while AI and patient engagement were the least. Further assessment on a larger scale will inform potential future collaborations on Regional initiatives.