On April 7, World Health Day 2026, attention has once again turned to the serious challenges facing Afghanistan’s healthcare system, where years of conflict, economic difficulties, natural disasters, and resource shortages have left millions with limited access to essential health services.

Despite these challenges, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported that its support for 46 Basic Health Clinics and one district hospital of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) has played a crucial role in improving healthcare access for local communities.

According to the ICRC, in 2025 around 1.2 million patients, most of them women and children, received preventive care and early treatment at these facilities. Providing care at the earliest stages of illness has helped reduce pressure on larger hospitals.

The United Nations also highlighted World Health Day by praising the efforts of healthcare workers in Afghanistan, noting that strengthening the health sector and improving access to quality care remains an urgent necessity.