Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are taking a heavy toll on Afghanistan health system. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic lung conditions account for 43% of deaths in the country, a figure expected to rise above 60% by 2030, mainly among women. Substance use and road traffic accidents further exacerbate this burden.

Thousands of Afghan families face long waiting lists for treatment, with timely life-saving care often difficult to get, especially in rural areas. Cardiovascular disease alone claims over 40 000 lives each year, placing Afghanistan among the countries with the highest age-adjusted death rates.

Cancer also weighs heavily, particularly on Afghan women, with breast and cervical cancers among the top three. Sadly, most patients only seek medical help at late stages (Stage 3 or Stage 4) when treatment is far less effective.

Amid these challenges, mental health is emerging as one of Afghanistan’s most urgent yet overlooked concerns. Years of conflict, natural disasters and displacement have left deep psychological impacts, particularly among families returning from Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is estimated that one in five Afghans lives with a mental health condition, and last year, more than half of returning families suffered from disorders such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress. Despite this urgent need, provincial hospitals and primary health care services still lack mental health services, leaving many of the country’s most vulnerable populations without care.