Afghanistan is facing a critical shortage of female health workers by 2030, as ongoing restrictions on women’s education under Taliban rule continue to hamper the training and replacement of medical professionals. According to United Nations projections, the country is expected to lose an additional 25,000 female teachers and healthcare workers in the coming decade, with no new graduates to fill the gap due to bans on women's access to higher education.

The Taliban's prohibition on nursing and midwifery training programs for women has effectively closed one of the last remaining avenues for Afghan women to receive formal education and medical training. This development has drawn concern from health experts and humanitarian organizations, who warn that the lack of qualified female health workers will severely undermine access to essential healthcare services for women and girls across Afghanistan.

Mariam, a midwife and mother of five who currently oversees the training of approximately 80 students with limited international aid, described the future as “very dark.” She expressed deep concern that Afghanistan is reverting to conditions reminiscent of the Taliban's previous rule in the 1990s, a period marked by high maternal and infant mortality rates and widespread malpractice due to the absence of trained midwives. “Women are dying before even reaching our clinics,” she said. “Many families are destroyed.”

Healthcare workers recount challenges faced in rural communities, where cultural norms typically prohibit men from serving as midwives and women are reluctant to seek care from male doctors. Dr Farhad, a physician working in one of the clinics, recalled a case from 2004 involving a newborn who died from infection caused by improperly handled umbilical cord care. This case highlights the ongoing risks that stem from a shortage of trained female medical personnel.

A 2025 study published in The Lancet warned that barring women from nursing and midwifery education would lead to preventable deaths by severing the pipeline for female healthcare workers. It noted that without women in these roles, many Afghan women would be forced to forgo critical medical care due to cultural and legal barriers.

Mariam reported facing ongoing harassment and threats over the past five years, including two detentions by the Taliban’s ministry responsible for enforcing moral codes. She said the restrictions have severely impacted productivity, with a constant fear of persecution affecting both trainers and students.

Her greatest concern is the likely end of midwifery as a profession for Afghan women within her lifetime. “I am getting older. There is not a new generation ready to take the baton from us,” she said, emphasizing the absence of a functioning system to maintain healthcare access, especially in remote areas.

Mark Calder, director of advocacy at World Vision International, stated that the organization frequently raises concerns about the shrinking pipeline of female medical practitioners with Taliban officials. He described the existing situation as already dire and said the ban on female education and training will only exacerbate the challenges faced by women’s health in Afghanistan. Calder acknowledged that while aid organizations cannot fully compensate for these restrictive policies, their efforts can help mitigate the impact to some extent.