Assessing the impact of the Taliban takeover on accessibility, availability, acceptability and quality of public healthcare facilities in Afghanistan
A mixed methods study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21881391 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Margo van Gurp (0000-0001-6015-5301, Royal Tropical Institute), Partamin Manalai (Royal Tropical Institute), Sandra Alba (0000-0003-2435-624X, Royal Tropical Institute), Maarten Olivier Kok (0000-0001-8957-1253, Department of Health), Sayed Rahim Arab (Particip, Kabul, Afghanistan), Sara Gari (Particip, Freiburg, Germany), Maiza Campos Ponce (0000-0003-1700-4756, Department of Health), Nasratullah Ansari (0000-0002-1322-5968, University Medical Center Groningen) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | e020188 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | BMJ Global Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908 |
| Publisher | BMJ (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1136/bmjgh-2025-020188 |
| PMID | 41895793 |
| OpenAlex | W7141296854 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 20 |
INTRODUCTION: After the Taliban took over the Afghan government in August 2021, funds for the public healthcare system were suspended, the economy collapsed and female education and mobility were restricted. We examined the impact of the takeover on the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of public healthcare in Afghanistan. METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods study to assess the impact of the Taliban takeover on Afghanistan's public healthcare system. Key informant interviews with healthcare workers and managers were combined with interrupted time series analysis on maternal and child health services and the availability of medicines and healthcare workers from January 2019 to September 2023. RESULTS: Disruptions in service provision and availability of healthcare workers were minimal, temporary and mostly due to interrupted funding. Following the political change, more patients visited public healthcare facilities as safety improved accessibility and private healthcare became less affordable. Acceptability and quality of care were affected by continued increased patient load, medicine shortages and insufficient training planning. Healthcare workers reported incidents where chaperones obstructed access to healthcare facilities for female patients and healthcare workers. CONCLUSION: Afghanistan's public healthcare system showed incredible resilience amidst funding disruptions and conflict until 2023. Healthcare facilities and underserved communities are more accessible due to improved safety, but the increased patient load and economic collapse add pressure to the system. Development partners must safeguard access to and participation in healthcare for women
Afghan · Economic shortage · Health administration · Health care · Public health · Public healthcare · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Legal, Health, Environmental and COVID-19 Challenges · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East
Third party monitoring for health in Afghanistan
Estimating maternal mortality
Primary healthcare system and provider responses to the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan
Maternal health in Afghanistan amidst current crises – A neglected concern
Healthcare collapse in Afghanistan due to political crises, natural catastrophes, and dearth of international aid post-Covid
Access to care in Afghanistan after august 2021
Exploring barriers to access to care following the 2021 socio-political changes in Afghanistan
Afghanistan's Basic Package of Health Services
Adaptive methodology. Topic, theory, method and data in ongoing conversation
Living through conflict and post-conflict
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |