Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights, has recently stated that Afghanistan’s health sector is facing a severe shortage of female doctors.
Today (Wednesday, February 25), in his report on the status of Afghan women’s and girls’ access to healthcare services, Bennett said that women make up only 27 percent of general physicians, 18 percent of specialist doctors, and 29 percent of nurses.
In his report, he emphasized that the policies of Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, which target women’s education, employment, mobility, and participation in public life, are inflicting deep and lasting damage on the country’s healthcare system.
The report states that the ban on medical education in 2024 has not only disrupted current service delivery but has fundamentally undermined the future sustainability of the health sector.
This comes despite the fact that medical institutes were open to women and girls until last year, but were closed by order of the leader of the current authorities.
Bennett further added that by restricting access to medical, nursing, midwifery, and other health-related education, the de facto authorities are effectively dismantling the system.
The report also notes that women working in the health sector are retiring, migrating, or being forcibly dismissed, leaving entire communities—especially in rural and underserved areas—without trained personnel capable of providing safe and acceptable care.
It is worth mentioning that after taking control of Afghanistan, the current authorities deprived women and girls of education. This action has left millions of schoolgirls out of school.
In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, and public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian (mahram), and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.
