Iranian Health Official Arrives in Kabul for Talks with Taliban Authorities

Mehdi Pirsalehi, Deputy Health Minister and Head of the Food and Drug Administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has arrived in Kabul for discussions with Taliban officials on health and pharmaceutical cooperation.

During his visit, he is also scheduled to attend the 1404 Kabul Health Expo, where 40 Iranian pharmaceutical companies are showcasing their products in an effort to establish a lasting presence in Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical market.

As Afghan citizens face serious challenges in accessing medicine and basic health services, some foreign organizations are seeking ways to support and collaborate. However, the Taliban administration currently lacks the managerial and institutional capacity to ensure adequate healthcare service delivery.

The pharmaceutical expo in Kabul comes amid a deteriorating healthcare sector, marked by poor planning, resource shortages, and the exodus of skilled professionals following the fall of the republic. In the absence of transparent oversight and systematic planning, such initiatives risk becoming symbolic and ineffective projects.