During a press conference at the Government Information and Media Center, officials from the Ministry of Public Health detailed the ministry’s key achievements over the previous year.
Highlights include the development of a comprehensive five-year plan, the establishment of accreditation standards and grading for laboratories and diagnostic clinics, the drafting of legislative documents, the issuance of licenses to 3,489 healthcare professionals, the provision of healthcare services to prisoners across 34 provinces, the registration and approval of 1,056 types of medicines to support domestic production, the registration of 1,506 new doctors, and the resolution of 14 medical complaints and violations.
Officials also underscored significant advancements such as the standardization of curricula across all private medical institutes, the extension of the midwifery program from two to three years, the enrollment of 27,642 students in private medical institutes, the delivery of training programs for 62,031 healthcare workers, and the graduation of 1,608 students from medical institutes.
Furthermore, through 4,212 health centers, the ministry has delivered 87,987,104 outpatient services, 1,986,650 inpatient services, 65,300 hemodialysis treatments, and 31,614 services to cancer patients. Additionally, 23,692 individuals suffering from addiction have received treatment, and 22,000 people affected by recent earthquakes in the country have been provided with essential health and psychological services.
Over the past year, the ministry distributed more than 8.8 million vitamin-A capsules to children aged 6 to 59 months, provided 1,557,344 folic acid and iron tablets to children and adolescents, distributed 1,861,221 micronutrient powder (MNP) sachets to children aged 6 to 59 months, vaccinated and treated 27,038 returnees in 14 provinces, delivered healthcare services to 258,170 nomadic populations, and supplied physical rehabilitation equipment to 6,831 disabled individuals.
The ministry reported a significant increase in vaccination coverage from 65% to 80% over the past year, with a total of 8,599,750 children and mothers vaccinated during this period. Furthermore, 25,302 types of imported medicines and health products were approved for import, 2,316 domestically produced medicines were introduced to the market, and operating licenses were issued to 15 pharmaceutical factories, 151 medicine import companies, 179 wholesalers, and 2,468 pharmacists.
Officials noted that Afghanistan has achieved self-sufficiency in serum production, with surplus production being exported to Arab countries over the past year. Additionally, 1,610 tons of expired medicines, health products, and food items were destroyed across central and provincial locations.
The ministry also highlighted the signing of MoUs with 180 healthcare service providers and the registration of 184 active organizations within the health sector over the past year.
Looking ahead, the ministry has prioritized the establishment of health centers at the district level, enhancing the quality of healthcare services in remote areas, equipping the Republic Hospital, controlling infectious diseases, eradicating polio, and implementing capacity-building programs as key initiatives for the current year. #
