Afghanistan and Belarus have agreed to expand health cooperation, with a focus on medicines, medical equipment and training healthcare workers, following talks between the two countries’ health ministers in Minsk on Tuesday (29 September).
Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health Noor Jalal Jalali met Belarusian Minister of Health Aleksandr Khodzhayev during an official visit to the country.
The Ministry of Public Health said the two sides discussed the import of medicines into Afghanistan, provision of medical equipment, professional capacity building for healthcare workers and exchange of research and information.
“The Ministry of Public Health is seeking to expand health cooperation with various countries and benefit from enhanced collaboration in the areas of professional expertise, medical equipment, medicines, and healthcare services to further strengthen the country’s healthcare system,” Jalali said.
According to the Afghan Ministry, Khodzhayev expressed Belarus’ readiness to strengthen their partnership in these areas as well as exchange scientific expertise.
Together with a delegation, Jalali is expected to visit medical, pharmaceutical, cardiology, oncology, public health and emergency care facilities during the trip.
The visit comes as Afghanistan’s healthcare system faces funding and capacity challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 14.4 million people will need health assistance in Afghanistan in 2026.
WHO says at least 422 primary healthcare facilities closed in 2025 following funding reductions, affecting access to services for an estimated 3.3 million people.
Previously, Afghanistan used to rely heavily on medical imports from Pakistan. However, Kabul has been actively cultivating relationships with alternative regional suppliers. As well as Belarus, Kabul has made major strides with India, Uzbekistan, and Iran this year.
The Afghan Ministry of Public Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding (17 September) with an Indian pharmaceutical company to build a facility to produce traditional medicine.
The Afghan government signed a $5 million contract with five major Uzbekistan pharmaceutical companies (29 May).
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