The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the efficiency of the health systems of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. The data used are annual and from the World Bank database for the period 1995-2011 and cover 18 countries in the region. To estimate efficiency scores, we used Data Envelope Analysis (DEA). In the DEA method, there are two orientations: an input orientation and an output orientation. The input orientation is to minimize the amount of input by keeping the same level of output. In the output orientation, it is a question of maximizing the output while keeping the same level of input. In this paper, we have chosen the direction of minimization of inputs, this choice seems appropriate to the problem of scarcity of resources that countries face. We used three models that differ in their inputs / outputs. The results of the first model show, on average, that countries in the MENA region can save almost 35% of the factors of production (number of doctors per thousand inhabitants and number of hospital beds per thousand inhabitants) while keeping the same values of infant mortality rates and adult mortality rates. These countries do not operate at the most productive scale. The results of the second model show that these countries can save almost 47% of the factors of production. Regarding the third model, the results show that, on average, the efficiency scores have increased compared to the two previous models. Despite this improvement, on average MENA countries are not benefiting in an efficient way from their health spending. This model indicates that countries in the MENA region can save 2.1% of health expenditures while keeping the same output values.

Keywords : Efficiency Analysis; Data Envelopment Analysis; Health System; MENA Region.