Officials at the Bamiyan Provincial Hospital state that the increasing number of patients, the shortage of specialized doctors, and the lack of medical facilities have slowed down the treatment process at this hospital.

According to them, on average, up to one thousand patients from six neighboring provinces visit this hospital daily.

Basiruddin Maroof, the Chief Physician of Bamiyan Provincial Hospital, said: "The Bamiyan Provincial Hospital has 105 beds, and last month, we admitted 1,600 inpatients and attended to more than 29,000 outpatients."

The director of Bamiyan Provincial Hospital mentioned that despite considerable efforts to treat patients, there are no services for ophthalmology, ENT (ear, nose, and throat), neurosurgery, and orthopedics at this hospital.

He added that most patients requiring these services are forced to transfer their patients to hospitals in Kabul, incurring additional costs.

Khairullah Ahmadi, Director of Bamiyan Provincial Hospital, stated: "The necessary services that should currently be available at the provincial hospital include ENT, orthopedics, and neurosurgery, but now patients requiring these services are referred to hospitals in Kabul."

Agha Hussain, a resident of Bamiyan, said: "When someone faces a bone fracture, they come to the Bamiyan Provincial Hospital, but due to a lack of facilities, they are transferred to Kabul."

Meanwhile, the Bamiyan Public Health Directorate has discussed upgrading the 105-bed Bamiyan Provincial Hospital to a regional hospital with the Ministry of Public Health.

Jafar Zaki, Head of Bamiyan Public Health, stated: "I have spoken several times with the Aga Khan officials and the Ministry of Public Health to convert the Bamiyan Provincial Hospital into a regional hospital, which could also address the problems of patients from neighboring provinces."

According to statistics, nearly 30,000 patients from various provinces visited Bamiyan Provincial Hospital last month alone. The shortage of healthcare centers in remote areas, poor economic conditions, and the difficult terrain of the central provinces have exacerbated the challenges faced by patients.