Health
Bangladesh’s Indo-Bangla Pharmaceuticals to begin exporting medicines to Afghanistan
In a move seen as a potential boost to Afghanistan’s fragile healthcare system, Bangladesh-based Indo-Bangla Pharmaceuticals has announced plans to begin exporting medicines to Afghanistan.
The decision comes as part of a long-term partnership with Afghan firm Salar Yousafzai Pharmaceuticals, which will act as the company’s exclusive distribution agent in the country.
According to Bangladesh media, Indo-Bangla’s board of directors has approved the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Salar Yousafzai Pharmaceuticals for the export of pharmaceutical products.
The MoU will be valid for 15 years, from 2025 to 2040, and may be extended by mutual agreement.
While no details were immediately available regarding the types or volume of medicines to be exported, the deal underscores growing regional cooperation in a context where Afghanistan’s access to quality healthcare remains critically constrained.
Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical system has endured significant setbacks in recent years, fueled by economic sanctions, the collapse of donor-funded health programs, and international disengagement following the Islamic Emirate’s return to power in August 2021.
The country imports over 90% of its medicines, primarily from Pakistan, India, Iran, and China, making its supply chain highly vulnerable to external shocks.
The withdrawal of aid and the departure of international NGOs have triggered drug shortages, price spikes, and the shutdown of many pharmacies, especially in underserved rural areas.
As such, the entry of a licensed, quality-assured foreign supplier like Indo-Bangla Pharmaceuticals may help stabilize medicine availability, particularly if the partnership ensures adherence to international standards and proper oversight through its Afghan counterpart.
This development comes amid ongoing calls by Afghan health officials for renewed international partnerships to revive the country’s healthcare infrastructure and ensure the supply of affordable, essential medicines.
In April 2025, Afghanistan’s Acting Health Minister, Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, discussed with Uzbekistan’s ambassador the need to import high-quality medicines and emphasized the importance of regulating all imports to ensure public safety.
In late 2024, Jalali met with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, UNFPA, UNICEF, and other agencies to stress the urgency of mobilizing international aid and securing stable pharmaceutical supply chains.
In August 2024, the Ministry of Public Health hosted 14 international organizations for a coordinated discussion on improving service delivery and securing external assistance for Afghanistan’s health system.
These repeated appeals highlight the Afghan government’s strategic focus on expanding international health collaborations, despite political and logistical challenges.
Health
Midwives Day: UN urges greater investment to protect mothers and newborns in Afghanistan
UNFPA added that improving access to skilled midwives is key to ensuring safer pregnancies and addressing persistent gaps in healthcare services for women and children.
Marking the International Day of the Midwife, the United Nations Population Fund in Afghanistan has called for urgent investment in midwifery services to help reduce maternal and newborn deaths across the country.
In a message shared on X, UNFPA said expanding the global midwifery workforce — including the addition of up to one million midwives — would be one of the most effective ways to save lives by improving access to antenatal care, safe deliveries, and postnatal support.
The agency stressed that midwives are central to strengthening healthcare systems and preventing avoidable deaths, particularly in Afghanistan where maternal and child health indicators remain among the most challenging.
UNFPA added that improving access to skilled midwives is key to ensuring safer pregnancies and addressing persistent gaps in healthcare services for women and children.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to maternal and newborn health programmes and called on international partners to sustain support for strengthening Afghanistan’s healthcare workforce.
Health
Three dead in suspected hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious infection transmitted primarily through contact with rats or mice or their droppings.
Three people have died following a suspected outbreak of hantavirus aboard a cruise vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, as the ship remains stationed off the coast of Cape Verde island.
The vessel, which had been travelling from Argentina, has been halted near the archipelago for at least 24 hours, with no clearance granted for passengers to disembark, according to local reports and the operator.
Among the dead are a Dutch couple, aged 70 and 69, who fell ill during the voyage and were evacuated from the ship. A third Dutch national has also died, with their body still on board.
A 69-year-old British passenger—currently the only confirmed case of the virus—is being treated in intensive care at a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, after being medically evacuated. Two crew members on the ship have also fallen ill and are in urgent need of care.
Oceanwide Expeditions said it is working with health authorities to manage the situation, but emphasized that the vessel has not yet received authorization to dock in Cape Verde.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially serious infection transmitted primarily through contact with rats or mice or their droppings. Symptoms can initially resemble flu but may rapidly progress to severe respiratory complications. There is no specific antiviral treatment, and care is typically supportive, with early medical intervention considered critical.
Health officials have not yet confirmed the source of the suspected outbreak, and investigations are ongoing as authorities monitor the condition of passengers and crew still aboard the ship.
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.
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