The Herat Public Health Directorate states that with the improvement of healthcare services and the implementation of advanced surgeries in the province, the need for patients to travel abroad for treatment has significantly decreased.

According to health officials, in recent months, complex surgeries such as advanced brain surgeries, tumor removal, cancerous gland surgeries, open-heart surgeries, kidney transplants, and other sensitive and complex procedures have become possible in Herat.

Recently, doctors successfully removed a tumor from the brain of Noor Ahmad, a patient from Kandahar, at a private hospital in Herat.

 “For the first time, we were able to remove the tumor through the nose using an endoscopic method. Fortunately, the patient’s vision has returned to normal after the surgery,” said Mohammad Younus Iqbal, a neurosurgeon.

Noor Ahmad also expressed his happiness about this achievement, saying, “I had planned to go abroad for treatment, but fortunately, doctors in Afghanistan treated me.”

Some patients who have been treated within the country for the first time have expressed satisfaction with their experience.

Mohsen, a patient from Daikundi whose treatment was previously not possible in Afghanistan and who had intended to travel to Pakistan for treatment, underwent surgery in Herat and expressed his happiness about receiving treatment within the country.

 “Traveling abroad was difficult for me due to visa issues and high costs,” he said.

Basir Ahmad Tawakkoli, a neurosurgeon, said about Mohsen’s surgery, “In this operation, we removed the patient’s third cervical vertebra, which was completely damaged, and replaced it with a cage.”

The Herat Public Health Directorate emphasizes that in recent years, treatments for certain diseases that were previously not possible in the country are now being performed in the province.

 “In the past, patients with brain tumors had to travel abroad for treatment, but now these surgeries are performed in both the public and private sectors in Herat. Additionally, kidney transplants and open-heart surgeries are performed in the province, which has reduced people’s difficulties,” said Ghulam Mohammad Hanafi, deputy director of the Herat Public Health Directorate.

Farid Ahmad Ijaz, director of a private hospital in Herat, also stated: “We provide advanced medical services in areas such as kidney transplants, cancer surgeries, spinal surgeries, neurosurgeries, and open-heart surgeries.”

According to statistics from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health, Afghan patients spend more than $500 million annually on treatment in neighboring countries. The development of advanced medical services within the country can play an important role in reducing these costs and preventing patients from traveling abroad.

“For the first time, we are providing cancer treatment services such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy within the country,” said Somaiya Hamidzai a doctor.

“We have started performing laser knee surgeries, which were previously not done in Afghanistan, forcing patients to seek treatment abroad,” said Ahmad Tariq Azizi, a specialist.

 “We have managed to establish open-heart surgeries, and so far, nearly 50 successful heart surgeries have been performed,” said Fawad Salehi, a doctor.

In addition to public hospitals, healthcare services in private medical centers in Herat have also improved. 

Health officials say that in recent years, several hospitals with advanced equipment have started operating in the province, providing, for the first time in the country, the possibility of treating certain sensitive and complex diseases.