A charitable foundation has launched the construction of a 50-bed hospital in Khost province at a cost of $1.5 million.
Local officials in Khost and representatives of the foundation said that once the hospital is operational, the number of patients traveling to neighboring countries for treatment will decrease.
Mahboob Shah Qanit, deputy governor of Khost, said during the groundbreaking ceremony: “This is a 50-bed hospital. God willing, it will provide high-quality medical treatment for patients.”
Shirgul Zadran, deputy director of Khost public health department, said: “This hospital will be fully functional in all departments, not limited to a few. It will initially start with 50 beds, but it may expand in the future based on demand.”
The hospital is being built on three jeribs of land (approximately 1.5 acres), and construction is expected to be completed within six months.
“We are trying to complete the construction of this hospital in six months. The initial budget is 1.5 million dollars, and we plan to expand the facility in the future,” said Ahmad Zahir Waqas, head of the charitable foundation.
Some residents of Khost say that with the completion of this hospital, their challenges in accessing health services will be significantly reduced.
Enayatullah Hakimzoy, a Khost resident, “The needs of patients in Khost will be partially met, and the number of Afghans traveling abroad for treatment will decrease with the construction of this hospital.”
Currently, due to a lack of standard medical centers in Afghanistan, many citizens travel to neighboring countries — especially Pakistan and Iran — for treatment.