Health in Afghanistan

The Ministry of Public Health oversees a fragile health system that depends heavily on external funding and partner organizations. Afghanistan has 34 provinces, and services vary with geography, security, season, local staffing and facility capacity. Mountainous areas, poor transport links, poverty and transport costs leave about one third of the population underserved. In 2025, at least 422 primary-care or mobile health and nutrition teams closed, reducing access for about 3.3 million people. In 2026, an estimated 14.4 million people needed health assistance, while available funding covered only part of the planned response. The formal public-care structure usually begins with a community Health Post or another primary-care facility. A Basic Health Center or Comprehensive Health Center can provide broader examination and treatment. District Hospitals, Provincial Hospitals and Referral Hospitals handle complications, surgery, childbirth emergencies, trauma and other cases requiring more staff or equipment. A referral may be needed, but local availability, opening hours and transport should be confirmed before travel because there is no uniform nationwide family-doctor or referral standard. Preventive services include routine vaccination through the Expanded Programme on Immunization and national campaigns, antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, reproductive health services, nutrition screening and treatment, hygiene education and disease surveillance. Vaccination coverage remains uneven by region. Polio remains endemic, and outbreaks of measles, acute watery diarrhoea, malaria, dengue and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever can affect access and treatment needs. Tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV and other communicable diseases also require locally available testing, treatment and follow-up. Maternal and child health receives high priority. Skilled birth care, emergency obstetric and newborn care, antenatal care, postnatal care and treatment for sick children may be provided by facilities, community midwives, Family Health Houses or mobile teams. Women and girls can face additional barriers because of movement rules, shortages of female professionals, transport problems and social norms. Complications require rapid contact with an appropriate hospital, but the necessary staff, blood, oxygen, laboratory services or imaging may not be available at every facility. Mental-health and psychosocial support exists through some primary-care and community services, nongovernmental organizations and hospitals, but specialist care is scarce. In 2025, most provincial hospitals did not have a specialized mental-health service. The World Health Organization network included five inpatient mental-health and psychosocial-support wards in eight provinces, about 320 public and private beds, 12 drug-treatment centers and five opioid-agonist-maintenance centers operating in 13 provinces. Stigma, limited staffing and restricted access for women and girls can further reduce use of these services. A person facing immediate danger from self-harm or harm to others needs immediate help from the nearest suitable facility, hospital or trusted local support; a nationwide crisis hotline cannot be assumed. People obtain medicines through public programmes, nongovernmental organizations, hospitals, private pharmacies and markets. The National Medicine and Health Products Regulatory Authority regulates medicines and health products, but many medicines are imported and supply, quality, cold-chain storage, price and authenticity vary. Buying antibiotics without professional advice and using medicines without follow-up increases the risk of treatment failure, antimicrobial resistance and counterfeit exposure. A reliable registered source should be used whenever one is available. Long-term treatment for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory disease, cancer and disability is fragmented. Screening, laboratory testing, rehabilitation, regular medicines and specialist referral cannot be presumed, so patients should keep written findings and a current medication list. Discharge arrangements, follow-up appointments, rehabilitation, palliative care and long-term support also vary; the same facility may not be available after a move between provinces or after a programme closes. Public and partner-funded basic services are often free or subsidized in principle, while private treatment, medicines and transport commonly require payment. Fees, informal additional costs, waiting times and treatment duration differ by facility and location. Formal consent, confidentiality and complaint procedures should be checked with the specific institution. Afghanistan does not have a single nationwide health-care, emergency transport, medicine-availability or follow-up standard comparable to systems that guarantee uniform benefits. In a medical emergency, seek the nearest suitable health facility or hospital immediately and use a local ambulance, partner organization or community network if one is available.