Sources among female doctors at several hospitals in Afghanistan say that the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health, has issued a new directive for healthcare facilities across the country. According to the directive, new restrictions have been imposed on the activities of doctors and healthcare workers, and female doctors who work alongside male colleagues in medical centers are required to have a male guardian (mahram).
At least six sources told media outlets on Wednesday, June 17, that the directive had recently been circulated to healthcare facilities in the form of a 17-article memorandum. The document contains new regulations governing the conduct of healthcare personnel and the segregation of men and women in medical institutions.
Under the directive, no male doctor or staff member is permitted to enter rooms where female patients are hospitalized without prior authorization. It also stipulates that the workplaces of male and female doctors must be arranged separately.
A female doctor at Malalai Hospital in Kabul, who requested anonymity, said that the restrictions could make the work of healthcare personnel more difficult. According to her, close cooperation between male and female doctors is essential in many medical departments to ensure proper patient care, and the implementation of such regulations could negatively affect the delivery of healthcare services.
The doctor added that female healthcare workers have complied with regulations regarding dress codes and workplace conduct in recent years. She noted that if the presence of a mahram becomes a requirement for continued employment, a clear mechanism should also be established for these guardians, as their constant presence alongside female staff would become part of the working environment.
A female doctor at the Balkh Regional Hospital in Mazar-i-Sharif also expressed concern about the professional future of many female colleagues. She stated that a number of female healthcare workers do not have a mahram in the city where they work, and it remains unclear how the directive will be implemented in practice.
She urged authorities to manage healthcare matters based on the medical needs of society and said that any new restrictions should take into account the conditions of healthcare facilities and the needs of patients.
Similarly, a female doctor at the Herat Regional Hospital said that Afghanistan’s healthcare system is already facing a shortage of qualified specialists, and that additional restrictions on female healthcare workers could create new challenges for women seeking access to medical services.
She added that the continuation of such measures could affect the performance of healthcare institutions, with the consequences ultimately being borne by patients and citizens who depend on medical services.
According to the directive, all healthcare facilities are required to establish separate waiting areas for men and women and to prevent mixing between the sexes within medical environments.
At the same time, a number of doctors say they have been required to pledge to grow beards and to suspend work activities 15 minutes before prayer times in order to attend the mosque for congregational prayers.
The memorandum also instructs all doctors and healthcare personnel to cooperate with officials responsible for enforcing regulations related to the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice.
The Taliban have emphasized that compliance with these directives is mandatory for all healthcare facilities and that violations will be dealt with in accordance with the group’s regulations.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
