Uzbekistan and Afghanistan have reached an agreement to build a hospital in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif based on a public-private partnership. A delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Minister of Health Asilbek Khudayarov, held a meeting in Mazar-i-Sharif with the Afghan Minister of Health Mawlawi Noor Jalal, the Governor of Balkh Province Muhammad Yusuf Wafa, and other officials. During the negotiations, the parties discussed expanding healthcare cooperation between the two countries, particularly the development of medical infrastructure in Afghanistan.
The Afghan side reported a lack of hospitals in most districts of the country and a rising number of oncology patients in recent years. In this regard, assistance was requested from Uzbekistan for the construction of a hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif, the training and professional development of specialists, the simplification of the visa regime for Afghan patients seeking treatment in Uzbekistan, and the facilitation of medical procurement procedures.
According to the agreements reached, the hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif will be built on a public-private partnership basis in cooperation with Arman Group. Within the framework of the project, the Afghan side will invest funds, adapt an existing building for the hospital, and purchase modern medical equipment. Uzbekistan, in turn, will provide the medical institution with qualified specialists.
Following the visit, it was decided to establish a working group consisting of representatives from the health ministries of both countries. This group will study the possibilities of supporting public medical institutions in Afghanistan and prepare relevant proposals. Additionally, a visit of an Afghan delegation to Uzbekistan will be organized. The parties will consider the possibility of providing annual professional development for up to 100 Afghan specialists and allocating quotas for up to 50 young people to study at medical universities in Uzbekistan on a grant basis. Furthermore, the issue of simplifying the procedure for issuing medical visas for the treatment of critically ill patients in Uzbekistan will be discussed.