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12 March 2025, Kabul, Afghanistan – In a landmark step towards strengthening Afghanistan’s health care system, the Afghanistan Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and World Health Organization (WHO) in Afghanistan, in collaboration with national health partners, have launched the National Health Policy (NHP) 2025–2030. The Policy encapsulates a new vision that seeks to ensure quality health care is accessible to all, regardless of location or financial means.
In 2021, WHO began working with local partners to develop a comprehensive, data-driven health policy. Through extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including development partners, implementing organizations and the private sector, the process evolved and has now resulted in a policy that prioritizes governance, financing, workforce development, service delivery and access to essential medicines with the goal of building a resilient and sustainable health care system.
“This policy is not just a document – it is a blueprint for a healthier Afghanistan,” says WHO Representative and Head of mission in Afghanistan Dr Edwin Ceniza Salvador.
“By strengthening health governance, improving access to care and ensuring sustainable financing, we are laying the foundations for a system that will serve the Afghan people for generations to come. WHO is proud to stand alongside its national partners and counterparts on this journey towards universal health coverage.”
WHO has conducted intensive training sessions, preparing health care professionals to turn the policy into action. In February 2025, over 250 participants were trained. The sessions, conducted through interactive discussions, group work and digital platforms, reinforced the principles of equity, efficiency and sustainability in health care delivery, equipping participants with the knowledge to cascade the training across Afghanistan’s provinces.
“The impact of the National Health Policy extends beyond hospitals and clinics. It will save lives, improve health outcomes and reduce disparities,” said one participant, a doctor from a rural district in Badakhshan Province. “For years, we have struggled with shortages of medicine, financial barriers for patients and a lack of trained professionals in remote areas. The Policy gives us a clear direction and the tools we need to bring real change to our communities.”
The NHP is aligned with WHO’s Strategic Operational Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2025–2028, and the 3 regional flagships initiatives on substance use, investment in the health workforce and equitable access to medical products.
With its focus on making health care more accessible, affordable and sustainable, improving emergency preparedness and addressing the social determinants of health, the NHP places Afghanistan firmly on the road to a stronger, more resilient health system.
Collaboration and sustained investment will be essential to the successful implementation of the Policy. Supported by the WHO core fund, and with the continued backing of WHO, the expertise of national health partners and the dedication of frontline health care workers, Afghanistan is taking a crucial step toward a healthier and more equitable future.
“Health is a fundamental right, not a privilege. This policy reaffirms our collective commitment to ensuring that every Afghan, no matter where they live, has access to the care they deserve,” says Dr Salvador.
