Afghanistan Peace Campaign
IOM /Marjan Wafa
In a new report published on Sunday, May 17, the network stated that women’s access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas, has become increasingly difficult in recent years, as clinic closures, a lack of female doctors and midwives, and economic pressures on families have compounded the problem.
According to the organization, many women have been unable to afford even the cost of transportation to reach their nearest healthcare facility.
The report noted that the continuation of this situation poses a serious threat to the future of the women’s healthcare system, as the closure of secondary schools and universities to girls has halted the training of a new generation of female doctors, midwives, and health workers.
According to the report, since early 2025, the United States, which provided approximately 40 percent of aid to Afghanistan in 2024, has abruptly cut its assistance.
Furthermore, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) health bulletin from July 2025, 422 healthcare centers across Afghanistan have closed as a result of this reduction in funding.
The Afghanistan Analysts Network said that several other donors have also reduced their budgets, while the Taliban have allocated the bulk of financial resources to security institutions.
According to the report, the World Bank (WB), in its March 2026 economic report, noted that the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defense, and Directorate of Intelligence received approximately 48 percent of the budget in fiscal year 2025, while the share allocated to public health stood at just 2.6 percent.
Another section of the report stated that Taliban restrictions on women’s travel and the requirement for a male guardian to accompany women in some areas when visiting healthcare facilities have made it even more difficult for women to access medical services.
The report warned that if girls’ schools are not reopened and women’s education in the health sector is not resumed, the state of women’s health in Afghanistan will follow a downward trajectory in the years ahead.