Taliban Shut 16 Health Centres in Kajaki District of Helmand
Amid continuing pressure on Afghanistan’s health system, the Taliban-run Public Health Department in Helmand has shut 16 health centres in Kajaki district, a move that is likely to make access to treatment more difficult for residents in an area already facing a severe shortage of medical services.
The Taliban administration’s media office in Helmand said in a statement on Friday, 30 August, that an inspection team reviewed 89 diagnostic and treatment centres, maternity and dental clinics, pharmacies and laboratories, and later closed 16 of them for what it described as a failure to meet the required standards and legal documents.
The decision comes as Afghanistan’s health system continues to suffer from a shortage of treatment centres, human resources and financial support. The Taliban’s restrictions on women working in the health sector and its ban on medical education for women have also further limited access to healthcare for women and children.
The World Health Organization had earlier said that since the beginning of 2026, around 150 health centres in Afghanistan have either closed or suspended operations because of a lack of funding. A decline in international aid has been cited as one of the main factors behind the financial crisis in Afghanistan’s health system.
Kajaki district is part of Helmand province, where residents in many areas have long faced limited access to basic services, including healthcare.
