Women in Shinwar district of Nangarhar province have complained about the shortage of female doctors at health facilities, saying that in many cases they are forced to consult male doctors for ultrasound examinations.
Several women said that although the names of female doctors are displayed on the signboards of some hospitals and health centers, in practice their ultrasounds are performed by male doctors, while access to female physicians remains limited.
The women said that undergoing certain medical examinations, particularly ultrasounds, by male doctors is difficult for them for cultural and personal reasons. They called for greater access to female doctors and other female healthcare workers.
The shortage of female doctors comes at a time when restrictions on girls’ education in parts of Afghanistan have intensified, particularly in medical education, raising concerns about the future of the country’s female healthcare workforce.
Activists and some healthcare workers have warned that the continuation of these restrictions could lead to a further decline in the number of female doctors, midwives, nurses, and other female healthcare professionals in the coming years. This, they say, could create even greater challenges for women and girls seeking access to healthcare services.
Women in Nangarhar are calling on health authorities to address the shortage of female doctors and ensure that female healthcare workers are available at medical facilities, particularly in departments where women patients require or prefer to be treated by female medical professionals.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
