Health Ministry Criticizes Use of International Aid in Afghanistan
The Ministry of Public Health has criticized how international organizations are spending aid in Afghanistan.
The acting minister emphasized that some donor organizations are not spending the allocated budgets for Afghanistan efficiently or appropriately.
According to Noor Jalal Jalali, the acting minister of public health, the World Food Programme recently imported around 7,000 tons of low-quality food and the UNDP brought in 650 substandard tuberculosis diagnostic kits.
He stated: “The World Food Programme (WFP) has brought 6,750.20 metric tons of Super Cereal — a mix of various grains — to Afghanistan to help feed women and children. Unfortunately, much of this food aid was procured without adhering to proper safety standards.”
He further stressed that donor organizations and international institutions must ensure transparency in their assistance.
“The services provided by some organizations are excessively expensive. For instance, one organization supports nearly six clinics with a budget of $6.5 million — equivalent to the annual budget of an entire province. Sometimes, our international partners disregard the needs of society and the priorities of the ministry.”
At the same time, the director general of medicine and health products at the ministry emphasized the importance of importing and producing quality medicines. He announced agreements with Uzbekistan and Iran in this regard.
Naeemullah Ayoubi, director general of medicine and health products at the ministry stated:
“The Ministry of Public Health has signed cooperation agreements with Uzbekistan and Iran to better manage the production and regulation of safe, effective, and high-quality medicines and medical products. Similar agreements will soon be signed with India, Turkey, and Pakistan.”
According to the ministry’s statistics, 103 pharmaceutical factories and 19 detergent production plants have received operating licenses. Additionally, 1,416 acres of land have been allocated in Mir Bacha Kot district for the development of a standardized pharmaceutical industrial park.
