Signs of strain are visible. In March, the WHO warned that 80 per cent of the health centres it currently supports would be forced to close by June due to a lack of funding.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms over Afghanistan’s deteriorating healthcare system, warning that a critical lack of funding and international support could bring the country’s fragile medical infrastructure to the brink of collapse.

In a recent appeal, Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO Representative in Afghanistan, stressed that the country is facing a deepening health crisis as aid dries up and the burden of healthcare expenses increasingly falls on the Afghan people themselves.

“About 80 per cent of healthcare costs are now paid out-of-pocket by individuals. Only 19 per cent is supported by the international community, and a mere one per cent comes from the de facto government,” Salvador said, describing the funding structure as unsustainable and unjust for a country grappling with economic and political instability.

The decline in support follows the suspension of US assistance, which previously accounted for nearly half of the international funding directed toward Afghanistan’s healthcare. Salvador highlighted ongoing efforts to court alternative donors, including the European Union and Gulf states, in a bid to bridge the funding gap.

“We are working to increase partnerships with goodwill donors like the European Union, and we’re encouraging Gulf states and other governments that haven’t traditionally supported Afghanistan to step up,” he said. “This isn’t just about money – it is a matter of life and death.”

The consequences of dwindling aid are already being felt across the country. Doctors and medical professionals are reporting severe shortages of resources, staff, and support, especially in remote and rural areas.

“In far-flung provinces, people are facing extreme poverty and worsening health conditions,” said Dr. Abdulwahid Safa. “There is an urgent need for aid in child and maternal nutrition and basic healthcare services.”

Strain Visible

Healthcare workers say the international community’s support is not only vital for maintaining services but also for ensuring salaries, clinic maintenance, and medicine supply chains. Dr. Mujtaba Sufi warned that politicising or interrupting this aid could devastate community health efforts. “People rely heavily on this assistance,” he said. “We must not halt these services, but we should also consider building toward self-sufficiency.”

Yet, signs of strain are visible. In March, the WHO warned that 80 per cent of the health centres it currently supports would be forced to close by June due to a lack of funding. This sparked concern from both national and international health officials.

Abdul Latif Nazari, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Economy, echoed those concerns, saying: “Our appeal to the global community and humanitarian organizations is to support WHO, so it can continue its essential work for the Afghan people.”

Despite such appeals, the Ministry of Public Health announced on April 29 that efforts toward self-reliance are underway. A spokesperson claimed that while several health centres backed by international organizations have closed, the national healthcare system remains stable. However, medical professionals remain sceptical.

Dr. Madad Khan Danishwar warned that the shutdown of WHO-supported health centres would significantly disrupt access to care. “If this continues, patients in remote provinces will be forced to travel to urban centres, facing delays and added financial hardship,” he said.

The effects will not be limited to patients. With funding cuts, many doctors and healthcare workers could soon find themselves out of jobs, according to Dr. Sufi. “Unemployment among health workers will rise, and without sufficient disease monitoring, outbreaks of preventable illnesses will increase,” he added.

Humanitarian Emergency

WHO officials and Afghan doctors alike say the consequences of inaction could undo decades of progress in rebuilding the country’s health sector since the early 2000s.

“This is not just a funding shortfall,” Salvador warned in a March statement. “It is a humanitarian emergency. Every day without support means more suffering, more preventable deaths, and irreparable damage to Afghanistan’s already fragile health infrastructure.”

The dire situation comes amid broader concerns over the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, where over two-thirds of the population currently require some form of assistance. With ongoing economic challenges and limited domestic health investment, international aid remains a critical lifeline.

Observers say the solution lies not just in emergency relief but also in fostering longer-term commitments from a broader base of international donors. “We need to shift the narrative from short-term crisis response to long-term sustainability,” Salvador urged.

As the mid-year deadline for the potential closure of WHO-supported health centres approaches, the urgency to act grows louder. Health officials, humanitarian agencies, and civil society continue to call for immediate, coordinated action to prevent what could become one of the most severe collapses of a national health system in recent history.

For now, Afghanistan waits – its health system hanging in the balance, and its people paying the price.