Afghanistan's Healthcare Landscape: A Comprehensive Overview Of Hospitals And Medical Facilities

Afghanistan has over 3,000 health facilities, including more than 100 government-run and private or internationally-administered hospitals. The number of hospitals in the country has gradually increased since 2004, when there were 117 private and government-run hospitals. Healthcare in Afghanistan is slowly improving, but the system remains poor when compared to neighbouring countries. The country's health system has been steadily progressing over the last 17 years, with increasing coverage of health services. However, the recent takeover by the Taliban and subsequent sanctions have disrupted funding and put immense pressure on an already fragile health system.

There are over 3,000 health facilities in Afghanistan, including more than 100 hospitals

Afghanistan has over 3,000 health facilities, including more than 100 hospitals. While healthcare in Afghanistan is improving, it is still considered poor in comparison to neighbouring countries. Decades of war have had a detrimental effect on the country's healthcare system, which is slowly being rebuilt with the help of organisations like the WHO and UN.

In 2018, there were 3,135 functional health facilities in Afghanistan, providing access to almost 87% of the population within a two-hour distance. This is a notable improvement from 2006, when only 60% of the population lived within two hours of a health facility. The number of health facilities includes clinics and health centres, as well as hospitals.

The quality of healthcare in Afghanistan varies, with the most advanced treatments available in major cities like Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat. However, the country's healthcare system faces several challenges, including a shortage of female healthcare providers, limited access to priority health services due to distance and cost, and inadequate domestic resource allocation.

The number of hospitals in Afghanistan has gradually increased over the years. In 2004, there were 117 private and government-run hospitals, and now there are over 100 hospitals in the country. The improvement in healthcare is evident in the increase in life expectancy from 56 to 64 years between 2001 and 2021. Additionally, the maternal mortality rate has decreased by half during this period.

Despite these improvements, the healthcare system in Afghanistan continues to face challenges. Hospitals often lack essential supplies, equipment, and medicine, and healthcare workers frequently go unpaid. The COVID-19 pandemic further strained the already fragile healthcare system, with many international organisations leaving the country.

The country's healthcare system is poor but improving

Afghanistan's healthcare system is poor but improving. The country's health system has been steadily progressing over the last 17 years, with increasing coverage of health services throughout the country. In 2018, a total of 3,135 health facilities were functional, which ensured access to almost 87% of the population within a two-hour distance.

However, the system remains poor when compared with its neighbouring countries. In 2003, there were 11 physicians and 18 nurses per 100,000 people, and the per capita health expenditure was $28. The nation had one medical facility for every 27,000 people in 2004, and some centres were responsible for as many as 300,000 people. An estimated one-quarter of the population had no access to healthcare.

Afghanistan's health indices are among the worst in the world. The country ranked 173 out of 178 in the United Nations Human Development Index in 2004. Infectious diseases such as acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, measles, and malaria contribute to the burden of disease. Malnutrition, physical trauma, psychological trauma, and human rights abuses are also significant problems in the country.

Since 2001, Afghanistan’s health status has improved slowly, but much still needs to be done. The country's health worker shortage is a result of the continuous war in the country since 1978, including the historic under-investment in education and training, migration, lack of infrastructure and equipment, and poor remuneration.

Despite these challenges, some progress has been made in rebuilding the health care system in Afghanistan. The Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) was developed by the Afghan Ministry of Public Health as a guide for the health services that the Afghan government would commit to providing for all Afghan citizens. Services were identified that would have the greatest impact on major health problems, be achievable given the limitations in infrastructure, be cost-effective, and give equal access to healthcare in both rural and urban areas.

The BPHS has improved access to healthcare in Afghanistan. Today, nearly 85% of the population has access (within a two-hour walk) to basic healthcare. The goal for 2010 is 90%.

However, the country's healthcare system remains fragile, and allowing Afghanistan to plunge back into instability could undermine the country's achievements in health.

The World Health Organization has been working to strengthen Afghanistan's health system

Afghanistan has over 3,000 health facilities, including more than 100 government-run and private or internationally-administered hospitals. The nation's healthcare system has been steadily improving, but it still has a long way to go. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working to strengthen Afghanistan's health system and address critical issues. Here are some key ways in which WHO is contributing:

• Supporting National Health Policies and Strategies: WHO, along with UN agencies, assists the Afghan government in implementing its National Health Policy 2015-2020 and Strategy 2016-2020. This includes areas such as governance, institutional development, public health, health services, and human resources.
• Strengthening Policy Dialogue and Coordination: As co-chair of the Development Partners Forum, WHO provides technical support to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and partners. They help strengthen policy dialogue, coordinate and harmonize sector programmes, and mobilize resources.
• Developing Health Packages: WHO supported the development of a new health package for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and assisted in formulating a National Health Strategy 2016-2020.
• Establishing Strategic Committees: WHO played a role in establishing the Health Sector Strategic Oversight Committee, chaired by the Minister of Health. They also supported the formation of a Health Sector Strategic Oversight Committee to oversee the health sector.
• Improving Medicines and Regulations: WHO has been instrumental in updating the National Medicine Policy and National Formulary of Medicine. They have also strengthened the National Medicines and Health Regulatory Authority to ensure the availability and proper usage of medicines.
• Implementing Patient Safety Programmes: WHO has implemented patient safety programmes in 17 hospitals across Afghanistan, aiming to enhance patient care and reduce adverse events.
• Establishing Mobile Health Teams (MHTs): Recognizing the challenges of reaching nomadic populations, WHO established MHTs in 12 provinces to provide basic health services, including reproductive health and immunizations, to those in remote and insecure areas.
• Supporting Reproductive and Maternal Health: WHO has been instrumental in improving reproductive and maternal health services. They have established public-private partnerships to upgrade private health facilities in insecure areas, ensuring better access to maternal and child health services.
• Addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: WHO, along with other organizations, has been addressing the mental health crisis in Afghanistan. They have hosted events and discussions to shed light on the latest developments and advocate for urgent action to improve mental health services.
• Responding to Humanitarian Crises: WHO has been active in responding to humanitarian emergencies in Afghanistan. They have provided life-saving health interventions and worked to address malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and the lack of access to healthcare, especially for women and children.

The work of WHO in Afghanistan is crucial to strengthening the country's health system and ensuring that Afghans have access to essential healthcare services. Despite challenges and underfunding, WHO's efforts have contributed to improving health outcomes and saving lives in Afghanistan.

Doctors Without Borders runs a range of projects in Afghanistan, responding to medical needs caused by conflict

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) runs a variety of projects in Afghanistan, providing emergency medical care in response to the immense needs caused by decades of conflict and political upheaval, particularly among women and children.

In 2022, MSF supported the 340-bed Boost Hospital in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, offering maternal and pediatric healthcare and surgery. The organisation also runs a dedicated hospital in Khost, offering neonatal and maternal care, with a focus on complicated deliveries. In the same year, MSF opened a health post in the Chardara district to address gaps in local healthcare, including nutrition support and routine vaccination services.

MSF has been active in Afghanistan since 1981, and its work has become more challenging since the Taliban took power in 2021. Foreign development funding was cut, and Afghan assets held in foreign countries were frozen, putting pressure on an already fragile health system. MSF has had to adapt to these challenges and has maintained its commitment to providing free, high-quality healthcare to Afghans.

MSF also runs a trauma centre in Kunduz, providing free, high-quality surgical care to victims of general trauma, such as traffic accidents, and those with conflict-related injuries. The centre has an emergency room, an intensive care unit, and two operating theatres. In addition, MSF has been supporting the Ahmad Shah Baba Hospital in Kabul since 2009, offering a range of services, including emergency obstetric care.

MSF's work in Afghanistan also includes treating drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis in Kandahar since 2016. They have a laboratory, an outpatient clinic, and a 24-bed inpatient department. MSF has also been active in Herat, where they treat malnourished children and run a COVID-19 treatment centre.

MSF's projects in Afghanistan are diverse and responsive to the changing needs on the ground, ensuring that Afghans have access to essential medical care despite the challenges posed by conflict and political instability.

The country's health workforce shortage is due to war, under-investment in education, migration, and other factors

Afghanistan's health workforce shortage is a result of the continuous war in the country since 1978, which has led to a mass migration of healthcare professionals. The conflict has also resulted in under-investment in education, with schools and universities often being the targets of attacks. This has resulted in a lack of skilled healthcare workers, with Afghanistan having the second-lowest health worker density in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The war has also caused economic instability, with many Afghans living in poverty and unable to afford healthcare. This has resulted in healthcare workers often not being paid, which has further contributed to the migration of skilled professionals.

In addition to the war, cultural and socio-economic barriers have also contributed to the shortage. Afghanistan's conservative culture restricts women from receiving healthcare from male providers, which has led to a shortage of female healthcare providers. This is especially prevalent in rural areas, where there is a lack of female healthcare workers.

The shortage of healthcare workers has been exacerbated by the recent Taliban takeover, which resulted in foreign development funding being cut overnight. This has put immense pressure on an already fragile health system, making it difficult for people to access healthcare.

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