Afghanistan Health System progressing towards self-sufficiency
By completion of construction work of 15 new Hospitals and centers with a capacity of 1750 beds in Kabul and 13 provinces, advanced and sophisticated hospital care and services will be available to the people of Afghanistan
Kabul, September 29, 2008: A survey of more than 8000 households nationwide was done in 2006 by Johns Hopkins University (JHU) to measure access and utilization of health services. It found that the proportion of women receiving antenatal care increased from 5-30 %, the proportion of couples who were using a modern form of family planning increased from 5-15 % and the proportion of pregnant women who received attendance by a skilled health worker increased from 5-19 % between 2003 and 2006. A health facility assessment of 600 health facilities each year since 2004, also done by JHU, indicates a 25 percent improvement in overall quality of basic health services. As a result child death rate has declined from an estimated 257 per 1000 live births in 2001 to about 191 in 2006
After achieving significant progress in the delivery of basic health services, especially in rural Afghanistan, MoPH has expedited its efforts in the provision of more advanced health services. In line with this efforts a number of new hospitals are constructed and being equipped with advanced equipment.
1) Jumhuriat 350 bed Hospital in Kabul with a $25 million financial support from China, 2) a 200 bed Obstetric/Gynecologic Hospital near Kabul airport with a $4.5 million financial support from UAE, 3) a 400 bed Hospital in Mahtab Qala- Kabul with a $27 million financial support from Pakistan, 4) a 100 bed hospital in Logar with a $26 million financial support from Pakistan 5) a 100 bed kidney disease treatment center in Jalalabad with a $25 million financial support from Pakistan, 6) a 50 bed eye diseases treatment center in Kabul with a $1 million financial support from Vision International, 7) a 100 bed hospital in Kapisa province with a $3.4 million financial support from Brunei, 8) a 100 bed hospital in Ghazni with a $8.6 million financial support from USA, 9) a 50 bed hospital in Kama district of Nangarhar with a $1.2 million financial support from European Union, 10) a 100 bed hospital in Paktia with a $7.6 million financial support from, 11) a 200 bed hospital in Khost with a $8 million financial support from USA, 12) a 600 bed hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif with a $14 million financial support from Germany, 13) a 100 bed Hospital with a midwifery school in Badghis with a $5 million financial support from Spain, 14) a Tuberculosis reference laboratory in Heart with a $1.5 million financial support from Italy and 15) a 100 bed hospital in Daikundi with a $4 million financial support from European Union.
Total expenditure for construction of these hospitals is $151 million. Donors are USA, China, Pakistan, Italy, Spain, UAE, Germany and European Union.
"Construction and equipping of new hospitals in Kabul and provinces are important steps in the strengthening of health care system in Afghanistan. By opening of these hospitals Afghan patients are benefiting from quality Tertiary Health Care. In addition a functioning referral system will be established between districts and provinces and between provinces and Kabul. Therefore, complicated health problems will be treated inside Afghanistan and ultimately people will not have to go abroad and spend lots of money to get treated outside Afghanistan. By experiencing this stage of progress, MoPH will realize dreams of Afghan people and His Excellency Mr. Hamed Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan" said Dr. S.M. Amin Fatimie, Minister of Public Health of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. "We are thankful to the international community for their generous support in funding of these hospitals and ensure Afghan people that soon they will witness a huge change in the health care system of Afghanistan. We provide this good news as a Eid Mubarak message to all Afghans inside and outside Afghanistan" he added.
MoPH Afghanistan is indebted for achieving its progress to many health stakeholders especially governments of USA, China, Pakistan, Italy, Spain, UAE, Germany and European Union, UNICEF, WHO, The World Bank, USAID, Rotary International, European Commission, CIDA, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI Alliance), JICA and many more organizations