The Kabul Tribune (KT)— The Taliban’s public health minister has asked Russia to help strengthen Afghanistan’s health system, including through the supply of vaccines, medicines and modern medical technology, the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health said.
Noor Jalal Jalali discussed long-term health cooperation
with Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, according to Sharafat Zaman
Amarkhail, a spokesman for the Taliban ministry.
Amarkhail said Jalali called for Russian cooperation in
improving health services, developing health systems and building the capacity
of Afghan medical specialists.
Murashko expressed readiness to provide technical assistance
and expand cooperation with the Taliban administration in the health sector,
Amarkhail said. The two sides also emphasized closer coordination among
relevant institutions and stronger health ties.
The request comes as Afghanistan faces medicine shortages
following a suspension of trade with neighboring Pakistan. The Taliban have
barred imports of Pakistani medicines for about a year amid rising tensions
between the two countries.
Afghan traders have increasingly turned to India and Iran to
source medicines. However, some medicine traders have questioned the quality of
Iranian products and said imports from the two countries have not fully
replaced supplies previously brought in from Pakistan.
The ministry’s account did not specify which medicines or
medical equipment Russia might supply, or whether the discussions resulted in a
formal agreement.
