Health
Afghanistan faces acute shortage of specialist doctors, officials urge ethics and expansion of health services
Noor Jalal Jalali, the Minister of Public Health, said the ministry is making sustained and intensive efforts to address the gap and expand access to healthcare services in remote and underserved areas of the country.
Afghanistan is continuing to face a serious shortage of specialist doctors, health officials said during the graduation ceremony of specialist physicians from the General Directorate of Medical Specialization for the year 1404.
Noor Jalal Jalali, the Minister of Public Health, said the ministry is making sustained and intensive efforts to address the gap and expand access to healthcare services in remote and underserved areas of the country.
According to Jalali, hospitals are still absent across 318 districts nationwide. He added that initial construction work for hospitals has been completed in 100 of these areas, stressing that strengthening health infrastructure and training qualified specialists remain top priorities for the ministry.
Jalali also called on doctors and health officials to uphold their professional and religious responsibilities by treating patients with compassion, dignity, and good conduct. He emphasized that medical practice should not be driven by material gain, but by the pursuit of public service and the well-being of the people.
Speaking at the same ceremony, Hamdullah Nomani, Minister of Communications and Information Technology noted a decline in public trust toward some medical professionals, saying that despite the presence of many committed and ethical doctors, the behavior of a few motivated solely by financial gain has undermined patient confidence. He urged newly graduated specialists to serve with sincerity and restore public trust in Afghanistan’s healthcare system.
Meanwhile, Abdul Wali Sadiqi, the financial and administrative deputy minister of public health, advised graduates to remain committed to their profession, fulfill their responsibilities honestly, and serve the public with dedication. He stressed that efforts in national service should match those made in personal affairs.
In addition, Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of the National Examinations Authority, highlighted that humans carry two fundamental responsibilities: worship of Allah and preservation of health, underscoring the vital role doctors play in safeguarding public health.
Health sector experts say Afghanistan now needs skilled and professional medical personnel more than ever, calling for increased investment in specialist training and healthcare infrastructure to meet the country’s growing needs.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health, Noor Jalal Jalali, met on Wednesday with Edwin Ceniza Salvador, the representative of the World Health Organization in Afghanistan, to discuss efforts to strengthen capacity across key areas of the health sector.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, discussions focused on mental health, cancer care, polio eradication, migrant health services, and the development of laboratory systems.
In a statement, the ministry said it remains fully committed to reinforcing the country’s healthcare system and is working closely with international partners to ensure the delivery of quality services to all citizens.
The WHO representative reaffirmed the organization’s continued support, highlighting its readiness to assist the ministry in capacity-building initiatives, service improvement, and broader health sector development.
Health
First endoscopic nasal tumour surgery successfully performed at Balkh regional hospital
The achievement highlights growing surgical capacity at the regional facility.
A landmark medical procedure has been carried out at Abu Ali Sina Balkhi Regional Hospital in Balkh province, where doctors have successfully performed a Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) to remove a nasal tumour for the first time.
The operation was conducted by the hospital’s Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist team on a 45-year-old patient who had been suffering from persistent nasal congestion and headaches. Hospital officials said the patient responded well to the procedure and was discharged in good condition following post-operative observation.
The achievement highlights growing surgical capacity at the regional facility.
According to hospital data, the ENT department treated 23,726 patients during the 1404 solar year. Of these, 881 patients required admission, while 874 underwent major surgical procedures.
Officials say the figures reflect both rising demand for specialised care and the expanding capabilities of the hospital’s ENT unit in northern Afghanistan.
Health
Afghanistan launches first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026
The three-day campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 12.6 million children under the age of five, according to the ministry.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health, with support from international partners, has launched the first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026.
The three-day campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 12.6 million children under the age of five, according to the ministry.
Officials said the initiative is a key step toward preventing the spread of the poliovirus and strengthening child health nationwide.
The ministry confirmed that the campaign has been postponed in Daikundi and Bamiyan provinces due to cold weather conditions, while in Ghor province it will be conducted one week later.
Minister of Public Health Noor Jalal Jalali said at the launch that the ministry, in cooperation with international partners, remains committed to preventing the spread of polio and working toward its complete eradication in Afghanistan.
He called on religious scholars, community leaders, and families to actively support vaccination teams and contribute to the success of the nationwide campaign.
The Ministry of Public Health warned that polio is a dangerous viral disease with no cure and can only be prevented through vaccination. It added that the disease can cause permanent paralysis or even death in children if not prevented.
Health teams will be deployed across the country during the campaign to ensure effective implementation, and families have been urged to bring their children under five years of age to designated vaccination points.
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