Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Public Health, Mawlavi Noor Jalal Jalali, welcomed Patrice Ostobs, the European Union’s Head for the Middle East, and his deputy, Paula Pompey, to his office on Thursday for a pivotal discussion on strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

The meeting focused on securing funding for specialized treatment centers, enhancing healthcare worker skills, and reinforcing Afghanistan’s fragile medical infrastructure.

High on the agenda were initiatives to expand facilities for cancer patients and drug addicts—two vulnerable groups in dire need of care—as well as capacity-building programs to equip healthcare professionals with advanced expertise. Minister Jalali thanked the EU for its steadfast support, while pressing for greater financial aid to broaden access to these critical services and improve training opportunities for medical staff.

EU representatives, in turn, commended the transparency of Afghanistan’s healthcare sector under Jalali’s leadership. Ostobs reaffirmed the bloc’s dedication to ongoing collaboration, highlighting the meeting as a testament to the power of international partnerships in tackling Afghanistan’s pressing health challenges.

The talks come at a crucial time for a nation grappling with limited resources and a strained healthcare system, where delivering essential services to at-risk populations remains a top priority. Both sides expressed optimism that deepened cooperation could pave the way for meaningful progress in Afghan public health. (ILKHA)