The Taliban have held a nationwide medical exit exam for around 7,000 male graduates, while excluding female graduates for the fourth consecutive year.
The exam is required for obtaining a license to practice medicine, effectively preventing women from entering the healthcare workforce.
Female graduates say that after years of study, they are now unable to pursue their professions due to restrictions on participation.
The exclusion comes at a time when Afghanistan is facing a severe shortage of healthcare workers, particularly female doctors.
International organizations, including the United Nations Population Fund, have warned that millions of Afghan women lack access to essential health services.
The country continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, a situation worsened by the absence of female medical staff.
Experts warn that continued restrictions on women’s education and employment in healthcare could push the system toward collapse.
Angle Analysis:
The exclusion of female doctors is not only a gender issue but a structural threat to public health, directly impacting maternal care and long-term system sustainability.
