Representative image NEW DELHI: India has issued over 500 visas to Afghan nationals in the last four months, including more than 200 medical visas, signalling a calibrated humanitarian push to ensure uninterrupted access to treatment for Afghan patients amid severe constraints in the country’s healthcare system.The visas have been issued since the rollout of a new Afghan visa module in April 2025, with medical cases emerging as a key priority area. Officials said a significant proportion of applicants sought visas for cancer care, trauma management and advanced diagnostics, reflecting Afghanistan’s limited capacity to handle complex and emergency conditions domestically.Linking visa facilitation to broader health support, Union Health Minister J P Nadda, during talks with Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, said India would continue providing free treatment in Indian hospitals for Afghan patients with emergency and serious ailments, while ensuring smoother medical visa processing. He said India’s engagement with Afghanistan remains firmly people-centric and guided by humanitarian considerations.The meeting also reviewed India-backed healthcare infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, including five maternity and health clinics in Paktia, Khost and Paktika provinces, a 30-bed hospital in Kabul, and the construction or upgradation of key facilities such as an oncology centre, trauma centre, diagnostic centre and thalassemia centre in the Afghan capital. Additional health sector proposals are under active consideration.India has supplied 327 tonnes of medicines and vaccines to Afghanistan over the past four years. Nadda said cancer medicines and a CT scan machine, requested by the Afghan health ministry, are ready for dispatch and will reach Afghanistan by the end of this month. Requests for a radiotherapy machine and further medical supplies are also being processed.Capacity building was another focus area, with India working on plans to send a team of senior Indian doctors to Afghanistan to conduct a medical camp and train local doctors. The Jaipur Foot camp organised in Kabul in June 2025, where 75 prosthetic limbs were fitted, was cited as a model to be expanded in the coming year.Both sides expressed satisfaction over the pace of cooperation, with India reiterating that visa facilitation, treatment access and healthcare support will remain central to its engagement with the Afghan people.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosPakistan Embarrassed Globally As Saudi Deports 56000 Beggars Despite No Fly Lists And Warnings’Countries Like Us Must Stick Together’: Jaishankar And Dutch FM On Strengthening India-EU Ties’Can’t Breathe, You Are Killing Me’: Trapped Journalist Cries As Dhaka Protesters Torch Media HousesWinter Session Closes As Lok Sabha Skips Pollution Debate A Day After G RAM G Bill Sparks ChaosMidnight Drama Over VB-G RAM G Bill, Opposition Stage Overnight Protest, Sleep Outside ParliamentMuhammad Yunus Calls For Calm And Patience As Hadi Death Sparks Protests Arson And National MourningHadi Death Triggers Overnight Riots In Bangladesh With Arson And Anti-India Fury, Media Targeted’Abrupt Variation In Chenab River Flow’: Pakistan Cries Over Indus Water Treaty Suspension’Asking Since June…’: Priyanka Gandhi, Nitin Gadkari Share ‘Appointment’ Banter In Lok Sabha’Possibilities For Expansion’: Argentinian Envoy On Trade Partnership With India123Photostories5 foods with the highest amount of Vitamin D levels10 morning habits kids must follow for guaranteed success and confidenceBharti Singh, Haarsh Limbachiyaa welcome baby boy: Here’s the list of other TV actors who became parents in 20255 reasons why cartoons may overstimulate newbornsChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares tips to make soft and perfect ragi rotiWhich animal you should feed according to your birth date7 reasons to have broccoli daily in winters and cooking tips that make it taste like heavenMumbai pins hopes on Rs 2,000-crore twin projects to cut Mithi River pollutionNot just eggnog: 5 other delicious drinks made using eggs5 Christmas cakes worth baking, other than the traditional rum cake123Hot Picksvb g ram gICICI Prudential AMCUAE RainGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays DecemberBank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingTravis Kelce Retirement RumorsAnthony Richardson InjuryCAT ResultWNBASan Francisco GiantsCam SkatteboPuka NacuaJake PaulSidney CrosbyGisele Bndchen
NEW DELHI: India has issued over 500 visas to Afghan nationals in the last four months, including more than 200 medical visas, signalling a calibrated humanitarian push to ensure uninterrupted access to treatment for Afghan patients amid severe constraints in the country’s healthcare system.The visas have been issued since the rollout of a new Afghan visa module in April 2025, with medical cases emerging as a key priority area. Officials said a significant proportion of applicants sought visas for cancer care, trauma management and advanced diagnostics, reflecting Afghanistan’s limited capacity to handle complex and emergency conditions domestically.Linking visa facilitation to broader health support, Union Health Minister J P Nadda, during talks with Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, said India would continue providing free treatment in Indian hospitals for Afghan patients with emergency and serious ailments, while ensuring smoother medical visa processing. He said India’s engagement with Afghanistan remains firmly people-centric and guided by humanitarian considerations.The meeting also reviewed India-backed healthcare infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, including five maternity and health clinics in Paktia, Khost and Paktika provinces, a 30-bed hospital in Kabul, and the construction or upgradation of key facilities such as an oncology centre, trauma centre, diagnostic centre and thalassemia centre in the Afghan capital. Additional health sector proposals are under active consideration.India has supplied 327 tonnes of medicines and vaccines to Afghanistan over the past four years. Nadda said cancer medicines and a CT scan machine, requested by the Afghan health ministry, are ready for dispatch and will reach Afghanistan by the end of this month. Requests for a radiotherapy machine and further medical supplies are also being processed.Capacity building was another focus area, with India working on plans to send a team of senior Indian doctors to Afghanistan to conduct a medical camp and train local doctors. The Jaipur Foot camp organised in Kabul in June 2025, where 75 prosthetic limbs were fitted, was cited as a model to be expanded in the coming year.Both sides expressed satisfaction over the pace of cooperation, with India reiterating that visa facilitation, treatment access and healthcare support will remain central to its engagement with the Afghan people.
