KABUL (SW) – There is a 3.7 per cent drop in the number of Afghan patients travelling abroad for medical treatment on annual basis, Ferozuddin Feroz, Minister of Public Health, said on Sunday.
He said this at a ceremony in connection with the World Health Day, a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization as well as other related organizations.
Minister Feroz said the drop in number of patients going abroad for health services indicates health services in Afghanistan have improved, and efforts are underway to further improve them. He said the 3.7 per cent drop has saved the country $ 50 million in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion, Mirwais Balkhi, Minister for Education, said creating health awareness remains a priority. He added soon basic health checks would begin for school children in grade one across the country. He added this would prove handy in prevention and early treatment of diseases.
Officials said 85 per cent of the citizens in Afghanistan have access to basic health services, but the minimal average budget earmarked for the provision of these services remains only $ 5 per person, which is not sufficient.
ENDS
