Taliban Claims Expansion of Healthcare Network Across Remote Afghanistan

DID Press: Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health says more than 420 new health centers have been established in remote areas of Afghanistan since the group returned to power, while health experts caution that expanding facilities alone does not guarantee better healthcare without qualified staff, medicines, and independent oversight.

Dr. Sharafat Zaman Amarkhil, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health, said the new facilities have been established in underserved and remote parts of the country. He added that the construction of district-level public hospitals will increase Afghanistan’s hospital bed capacity to more than 10,000, and claimed that over 85 percent of the population now has access to healthcare services.

According to the ministry, quality-control laboratories for medicines and health products have expanded from a single facility to laboratories operating in four regional zones. The ministry also said it has established a coordinated emergency response committee to address natural disasters across all provinces.

The spokesperson further claimed that the annual number of outpatient department (OPD) visits has increased from 60 million to 104 million, describing it as evidence of improved healthcare services.

However, public health experts argue that an increase in the number of health facilities is meaningful only if accompanied by quality medical services, reliable access in remote communities, adequate supplies of essential medicines, and sufficient numbers of qualified healthcare professionals. They also note that the lack of independent verification, shortages of specialized medical personnel in district hospitals, and persistent financial constraints remain major challenges for Afghanistan’s healthcare system.