Country: Afghanistan Source: World Health Organization 4 August 2026, Kabul, Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s de facto Ministry of Public Health today launched the National Health Strategy 2026–2030, developed with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and informed by inputs from health partners and stakeholders. The Strategy adopts a coherent approach to improving the use of resources for health. It addresses key priorities – strengthening systems for health, with a focus on high impact interventions, improving access and coordinating effectively across other sectors that impact health. By setting out a clear vision for health system transformation and a pathway towards long-term sustainable changes, the Strategy is an important step towards ensuring that every Afghan man, woman and child has access to equitable, quality and sustainable health services. It comes as Afghanistan’s health sector is facing severely constrained funding and an ongoing polycrisis. Improving maternal and child health and eliminating malnutrition and communicable disease agendas are all unfinished. The situation is compounded by high burdens of noncommunicable diseases, a refugee crisis, the arrival of large numbers of returnees, climate-related health emergencies, substance use and mental health conditions, displacement and urbanization which combined are increasing health needs across the country. To respond to these challenges, the Strategy focuses on seven priority areas – governance and leadership, health workforce development, sustainable financing, service delivery, access to safe medicines and health technologies, stronger health information systems and more effective partnerships. Together, these priorities aim to improve the quality of care, make services more responsive to people’s needs and strengthen the health system’s ability to continue delivering essential services during emergencies. Afghanistan’s National Health Strategy also recognizes that health is impacted by factors beyond health care provision, including nutrition, education, safe water, sanitation and livelihood and social protection. Its implementation will require coordinated action across sectors and sustained engagement from communities, health partners and donors. “A strategy matters only when its impact is felt in people’s daily lives – when a mother can reach safe care, a child receives timely treatment, essential medicines are available and health workers have the support they need, ” said WHO Representative in Afghanistan Dr Edwin Ceniza Salvador. “This Strategy provides a clear direction for improving quality, equity and accountability across the health system. We will continue working with national health authorities, partners and communities to help translate its priorities into practical improvements, and continue advocating for the sustained investment needed to keep essential services available. ”
Afghanistan’s National Health Strategy 2026–2030 aims to improve the quality and sustainability of health services
RELATED ARTICLES
