Before the Taliban takeover on Aug 15, 2021, Afghanistan had made considerable progress over two decades in increasing the coverage of health services and improving some health indicators. Article 52 of the 2004 Afghanistan constitution states that “The state shall provide free preventative healthcare and treatment of diseases as well as medical facilities to all citizens in accordance with the provisions of the law”. The scope of the country's health services is defined by the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and the Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS). Key donors financed the provision of both health packages. Despite many challenges in the country, since 2000 there have been substantial declines in deaths among infants and children younger than 5 years and in maternal mortality, while life expectancy has increased. In early 2021, the previous government endorsed the Integrated Package of Essential Health Services (IPEHS) that would have expanded the coverage and scope of health services and moved the country towards universal health coverage. But the IPEHS was not implemented given the conflict and Taliban takeover later that year. The political transition in mid-August, 2021 and the temporary pausing of funding to the health system from the World Bank and other donors have jeopardised the gains made in the past two decades.