The Taliban-run public health ministry on Wednesday signed a contract with Qatar Charity to build a 400-bed hospital in Kandahar.
The ministry said construction is expected to take about two and a half years. The hospital will provide services for internal medicine, pediatrics and women’s care.
Southern Afghanistan is among the country’s most underserved regions in terms of health care, with limited facilities and staff shortages.
According to the ministry, ongoing health projects include the construction of 318 district hospitals across the country, valued at 7 billion afghanis ($96 million).
The hospital agreement comes as the Taliban continue to bar women and girls from medical education and universities. International organizations have warned the restrictions will deepen Afghanistan’s health care crisis, leaving the system short of qualified female staff needed to treat patients.
