Afghanistan’s healthcare system has severely deteriorated under Taliban rule, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to issue a serious warning about the country’s worsening health situation.
According to the latest WHO report, Afghanistan’s basic healthcare infrastructure has largely collapsed. As a result, approximately 14.4 million Afghan citizens are now deprived of essential medical services.
The report states that in 2025, more than 422 hospitals and clinics were shut down across the country, leaving nearly 3 million people without access to treatment.
Restrictions imposed by the Taliban and the absence of female doctors have made access to healthcare nearly impossible for Afghan women.
Additionally, Taliban mismanagement has contributed to Afghanistan becoming a global center for polio, raising further international concern.
The humanitarian crisis has deepened, with around 17.4 million people suffering from severe food insecurity. Experts attribute the widespread collapse of health and other sectors to the Taliban’s extremist policies and administrative incompetence.
Analysts further note that due to Taliban extremism and alleged support for militant groups, many international organizations and NGOs have halted operations in Afghanistan. Persistent looting, corruption, and mismanagement of resources led to the permanent shutdown of SIGAR, the US watchdog overseeing American aid funds.
The WHO warned that without urgent international support and policy changes, Afghanistan’s health crisis could escalate into a full-scale humanitarian disaster.
