Ministry of Public Health Presents Annual Achievements Report

During a media briefing at the Government Information and Media Center, representatives from the Ministry of Public Health elaborated on the ministry’s significant accomplishments throughout the preceding year.

Key achievements encompassed the formulation of a comprehensive five-year strategy, the introduction of accreditation criteria and grading for laboratories and diagnostic facilities, the development of legislative frameworks, the licensing of 3,489 healthcare practitioners, healthcare provisions for inmates across 34 provinces, the registration and approval of 1,056 varieties of medications to bolster domestic production, the registration of 1,506 new physicians, and the resolution of 14 medical grievances and transgressions.

Moreover, officials emphasized notable progress such as the standardization of educational curricula across all private medical institutions, the extension of the midwifery program from two to three years, the enrollment of 27,642 students in private medical schools, the facilitation of training initiatives for 62,031 medical personnel, and the graduation of 1,608 individuals from medical institutions.

Additionally, via 4,212 healthcare centers, the ministry administered 87,987,104 outpatient services, 1,986,650 inpatient services, 65,300 hemodialysis sessions, and 31,614 treatments for cancer patients. Further actions included treating 23,692 individuals struggling with addiction, rendering essential health and psychological support to 22,000 earthquake-affected persons, distributing over 8.8 million vitamin-A capsules to children aged 6 to 59 months, providing folic acid and iron tablets to 1,557,344 children and adolescents, dispensing 1,861,221 micronutrient powder (MNP) packets to children in the same age group, vaccinating and treating 27,038 returnees in 14 provinces, extending healthcare services to 258,170 nomadic communities, and supplying physical rehabilitation equipment to 6,831 individuals with disabilities.

The ministry documented a substantial rise in vaccination coverage from 65% to 80% during the year, with a total of 8,599,750 children and mothers receiving vaccinations. Additionally, 25,302 imported medicines and health products gained approval for import, 2,316 domestically produced medications entered the market, and operating permits were granted to 15 pharmaceutical factories, 151 medicine importers, 179 wholesalers, and 2,468 pharmacists.

Officials highlighted that Afghanistan attained self-sufficiency in serum production, with excess serum being exported to Arab nations in the past year. Furthermore, 1,610 tons of expired medications, health products, and food items were properly disposed of at central and provincial sites.

The ministry also spotlighted the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 180 healthcare service providers and the registration of 184 active entities within the health sector during the year.

Looking towards the future, the ministry has prioritized the establishment of healthcare centers at the district level, the enhancement of healthcare quality in remote regions, the upgrading of the Republic Hospital, the control of infectious diseases, the eradication of polio, and the implementation of capacity-building schemes as primary objectives for the ongoing year.