RASC News Agency: According to reports from Pakistani media, a Pakistani health technology company called “EduCast,” based in Karachi, has undertaken an initiative to provide educational opportunities for one thousand Afghanistani doctors. This program has been made possible through financial support from the Islamic Development Bank. As per the report published by Express Tribune on November 19th, this educational program is being offered free of charge. However, it is specifically designed for Afghanistani doctors who have completed a two or three-year health science course.
The primary objective of this online educational program, launched by EduCast, is to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in Afghanistan. Additionally, it aims to alleviate the burden on Pakistan’s healthcare system. Participants in this program will be exposed to modern healthcare practices and receive training from Pakistani and British healthcare professionals. Abdullah Baat, the executive director of EduCast, revealed that the Taliban group approached the Islamic Development Bank seeking assistance in this area. Subsequently, EduCast was chosen by the Islamic Development Bank to provide education to Afghanistani doctors.
The majority of participants in this program, about 80%, are women from provinces such as Kabul, Balkh, Jalalabad, Kandahar, and Herat. Discussions are currently underway to expand this educational initiative to an additional 14 provinces. The announcement of this free online educational program for Afghanistani doctors by EduCast comes at a critical time when the healthcare sector in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan faces numerous challenges. The lack of specialist doctors, inadequate medical services and facilities, poor quality of drugs, and the absence of standardized healthcare centers are some of the fundamental issues. These challenges often compel patients to seek treatment in neighboring countries, including Pakistan.
