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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Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 28 September 2026. These are the top stories making headlines in technology.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in Washington for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral ties and key regional and international developments, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić resigned on Sunday, ending his second and final five-year term and paving the way for an early presidential election as the country prepares for a snap parliamentary vote on 25 October.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
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Saudi Arabia is facing a widening security challenge from Yemen as Houthi forces consolidate recent territorial gains along the Red Sea coast and step up attacks on the kingdom.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence says its forces killed 28 fighters and captured 32 others in Nuristan after armed groups, including alleged Islamic State members, crossed the border from Pakistan on Saturday.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has captured a second U.S. military unmanned underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have traded fresh accusations over alleged militant activity in Afghanistan’s northeastern Nuristan province as tensions between the two neighbours escalate.
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