The mass protests that swept the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region since December 2010 called for social justice and a dignified life and well-being for all citizens. Beyond the political and economic dimensions, these popular uprisings were also fueled by a strong sense of discontent with struggling health systems that have not delivered on the promise for better, more affordable, and equitable healthcare. This special issue of Health Systems & Reform examines government efforts that have been adopted since 2011 to address imminent health system challenges in the MENA region. It attempts to capture some of the fundamental health sector reforms that have been adopted by MENA countries to address their population‟s demands for better health care service delivery, access, and equity. The articles included in this special issue relate to projects that have been financed by the World Bank in the last six years, or where technical assistance was provided by the World Bank to MENA governments.