Officials at Paktiya Regional Hospital said that approximately 34,000 minor and major surgeries have been performed in this hospital over the past year.

According to them, their medical facilities have decreased, and it is necessary to increase the hospital's capacity from 150 beds to 300 beds.

In addition to Paktia province, patients from Khost, Paktika, and Ghazni provinces also come to this hospital for treatment.

Nader Ahmadi, the head of Paktiya Regional Hospital, said: "Last year, 34,285 surgeries were performed, of which 4,622 were major and the rest were minor. These surgeries were performed by 17 experienced specialists. It is noteworthy that more than 1,300 patients visit Paktia Regional Hospital every day."

Khair Mohammad Mansoor, the head of Paktiya Public Health, said: "This is a regional hospital and operates at the regional level. People have requests, including the issue of upgrading, which has been shared with the ministry and approved. We just need to find a donor and implement it. Also, the intensive care unit faces a shortage of space."

A number of patients who have come to Paktia Regional Hospital are calling for more medical facilities, especially medicine and beds, in this hospital.

Anzorgul, a patient, said: "MRI and CT scan services are very necessary in Paktia Regional Hospital and the intensive care unit has five beds which are not enough and should be increased to ten beds."

Saber Gul, another patient, said: "The facilities here are very limited. The laboratory and imaging examination systems are weak and we request the Public Health Department to increase the facilities to solve the people's problems."

Ayub Khan, a patient, said: "The people of Afghanistan are very impoverished and when someone gets sick, doctors refer them to private pharmacies. Those who can afford it can buy medicine and the rest remain without treatment."

According to the officials, if the capacity of health centers in the districts is increased, the number of patients in the regional hospital of this province will decrease.