On World Health Day, the acting minister of Public Health said that the country's health system needs 45,000 active beds, but currently, only 12,000 beds are active across the country. 

Qalandar Ebad called on the international community to cooperate with the ministry in expanding healthcare centers and providing services. 

"It is our need and necessity to have 45,000 active beds in Afghanistan; if we have them, we can then offer services to all the people of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the system we inherited from the past or the one we are currently situated in only has 12,000 active beds," he added.

Jamshed Tanoli, the World Health Organization's representative in Afghanistan, also called for ensuring healthcare systems for everyone, especially women and children in Afghanistan, on World Health Day. 

He emphasized that 18 million people in Afghanistan need humanitarian health assistance.

“Access to quality healthcare remains a pressing issue in Afghanistan, with nearly 80 million people dependent on humanitarian health assistance. The influx of Afghan returnees from neighboring countries further strains the already fragile health systems and highlights the need for resilient and responsive healthcare systems,” said the WHO representative.

A number of caretakers of patients also requested that the Ministry of Public Health establishes standard public hospitals for treating patients within the country. 

"We want the attention of the Ministry of Public Health to establish a well-equipped hospital for all patients in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is full of diseases,” Sakhi Mohammad, a caretaker, told TOLOnews.

"We request the public health Ministry's attention to establish a well-equipped hospital for all the diseases that exist,” said Abdul Haq, another caretaker. 

Some doctors also have demands for the improvement of the country's health sector.

"Our centers must be equipped because we lack some equipment in the diagnostic and laboratory section, and work needs to be done on this,” said Waisuddin Ebrahimi, a doctor.

"Awareness for doctors should be academically achieved through the educational programs abroad so that they can become aware of the latest topics emerging in the health sector,” said Asma Rahbin, another doctor.

According to the Ministry of Public Health's numbers, 4,900 healthcare centers are operational across the country, and last year 80 million people sought treatment at these health centers. 

Every year, World Health Day is celebrated on April 7th.