Balkh Hospital Introduces Laparoscopic Surgery, Performs 70 Operations

For the first time, Abu Ali Sina Balkhi Regional Hospital in Balkh has performed 70 laparoscopic surgeries.

Officials from the Balkh Public Health Directorate said the procedures were carried out over the past week by a specialist surgeon using his own medical equipment. According to doctors, laparoscopic surgery reduces patients’ pain, shortens hospital stays, and lowers treatment costs compared with conventional open surgery.

General surgeon Shamsur Rahman Tanai said: “I have performed laparoscopic surgeries that, until now, had not been carried out in Afghanistan’s civilian public hospitals.”

Kamal Khan Zadran, head of publications at the Balkh Public Health Directorate, said: “Over the past week, we performed 70 laparoscopic surgeries, which not only provided treatment for patients but also created an opportunity to enhance the capacity of the hospital’s medical staff.”

Patients welcomed the initiative and called for the expansion of this treatment method, as well as the provision of more facilities and equipment for laparoscopic surgery.

Patient Wazir Mohammad said: “Previously, they had to make large incisions, but now the surgeries are performed laparoscopically, and we are pleased with this development.”

Previously, many procedures, including weight-loss surgery, gallbladder removal, and surgery for kidney and bladder stones—were performed through conventional open surgery.