150 Health Centers Closed in Afghanistan Due to Budget Shortages
A regional official from the World Health Organization has announced that since the beginning of this year, 150 health centers in Afghanistan, which operated with support from humanitarian organizations, have either been suspended or completely shut down due to budget shortages. This situation has seriously endangered millions of residents’ access to basic health services.
Hanan Balkhi, who is currently in Afghanistan, wrote in a message on the social media platform X that the reduction in financial resources has diminished the ability of health workers to carry out vaccinations for children, made it more difficult for mothers to access safe care, and increased the challenges faced by patients seeking essential services. She stated, “These damages cannot be ignored.”
According to information provided by this WHO official, more than 22 million people in Afghanistan are in need of humanitarian aid, of whom 14.4 million require health services. These figures indicate that the country’s health system, alongside other economic and social crises, is under severe pressure.
Ms. Balkhi added that the health response program for 2026 is facing a severe budget deficit, with only 17 percent of the required funds secured by June this year. She emphasized that continued investment from the international community is vital to sustain health service delivery, protect achievements from past years, and support the most vulnerable groups.
While the Taliban administration is responsible for managing the country’s health system, international organizations warn that without the provision of sustainable financial resources and the creation of adequate conditions for aid organizations to operate, access to primary health services for residents in many areas will become even more limited.
