The Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Finance launched a new Partnership Contracts for Health Service (PCH) program today after signing 16 contracts with 10 NGOs totaling approximately $72 million over two years to provide health services in 12 provinces. These services are supported by the United States Government through USAID.

These signed contracts begin implementation of Basic Packages of Health Services (BPHS) and Essential Packages of Hospital Services (EPHS) for 12 provinces and for assistance to the Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital in Kabul.  All of the contracts are supported by USAID through Host Country Contracts.

At the signing, Minister of Public Health Dr. Said Mohammad Amin Fatimie, Minister of Finance Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, and U.S. Ambassador Karl Eikenberry spoke of the importance of the health packages to improve the health of the Afghan people and how the program will improve access to quality health care, especially for women and children. 

“I am very proud of our staff, and the participating staff of our collaborating Ministry of Finance for all their hard work in the procurement of first-ranked NGOs to deliver high quality services to the 12 provinces supported by USAID,” said Minister of Public Health Dr. Fatimie.

“The Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan by taking this opportunity would like to make sure that it would do the best to ensure that the funding is executed in the most effective, transparent and accountable manner,” stated the Minister of Finance, Dr. Omar Zakhilwal.

“Today is an important step in improving the lives and the health of the Afghan people,” said Ambassador Eikenberry. “Through these host country contracts with the various NGOs, this program will make available basic health services and hospital services to more than 35 percent of the Afghan population.  We have already seen a significant rise in accessibility in health services for the population rise from just 9 percent in 2001 to approximately 85 percent today.”

The contracts are for two years, with a one-year extension expected depending on results.  The PCH program is expected to be implemented for five years, with a total value of $236 million, not including essential medicines that will also be provided by the U.S. Government.

As a result of these contracts, MoPH will support 462 health facilities and over 4,000 health posts. The 12 provinces include Badakhshan, Baghlan, Bamyan, Faryab, Ghazni, Hirat, Jawzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Paktya, and Takhar.