The Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Finance launched a new Partnership Contracts for Health Service (PCH) program on November 4 after signing 16 contracts with 10 NGOs totaling approximately $72 million over two years.  Through these contracts funded by USAID, the Ministry of Public Health will support 462 health facilities and more than 4,000 health posts in twelve provinces.  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.

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 health services 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. 

“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 nine percent in 2001 to approximately 85 percent today.”  Minister of Finance Dr. Omar Zakhilwal added, “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.”