KABUL - Public health minister Dr. SurayaDalil on Sunday said her ministry was working on a new policy to ensure equal health services across the nation over next nine years.

"The policy is being launched in financial support from the international community," Dalil told reporters after concluding a two-day meeting with donors in Kabul.

She hoped the strategy, to be implemented until 2021, would help expand quality and advanced healthcare services to the people who had currently no access to even basic facilities in remote parts.

The minister said efforts were in place to ensure health officials were appointed against merit and to improve the capacity of health centers and equip them with modern facilities and medicine, claiming a considerable improvement in the health sector over the past few years.

About the meeting, Dalil said they agreed to once again review the Public Health Ministry's proposed development programs in order the existing problems in the sector could be addressed.
"Academic and technical issues came under discussion at the meeting with representatives of international organisations. We reviewed efforts at bringing transparency to the health ministry's activities and development programs," said Dalil.

She said the meeting also conferred on health problems in disaster prone areas. Six NGOs working in the field under contracts with the ministry were warned to abide by the agreements, otherwise a legal action would be taken against them, the minister said, without naming the organisations. (Pajhwok)