{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T22:32:44Z","timestamp":1792103564303,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,18]],"date-time":"2023-12-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1702857600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":17,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Health Science Reports"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,12]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background and Aim<\/jats:title><jats:p>Afghanistan is grappling with a severe health crisis marked by a high prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and the added strain of the COVID\u201019 pandemic. The nation's healthcare system, already fragile, faces formidable challenges. Socioeconomic constraints, including limited resources and financial barriers, hinder healthcare accessibility, leading to delayed or inadequate care. Environmental factors, such as poor sanitation and crowded living conditions, exacerbate the transmission of diseases, especially waterborne illnesses. Governance issues, encompassing transparency, corruption, and political instability, disrupt healthcare efficiency and resource allocation. Addressing these multifaceted issues is vital to enhance Afghanistan's healthcare system and overall well\u2010being. The withdrawal of international support has exacerbated these challenges. The primary research goal is to deeply understand Afghanistan's health system, focusing on the major disease burdens: Tuberculosis, Malaria, AIDS, COVID\u201019, Measles, Hepatitis, and Cholera. The study aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of current approaches, presenting a comprehensive view of challenges and opportunities within the Afghan healthcare system. The research concludes by highlighting policy implications, practical implementation, and offering recommendations for future endeavors.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methodology<\/jats:title><jats:p>This paper provides a thorough analysis of the literature concerning infectious diseases in Afghanistan and the enhancement of the healthcare system in the nation. A systematic exploration of the literature was conducted through PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The search terms used encompassed \u201cTuberculosis\u201d OR \u201cTB,\u201d \u201cMalaria,\u201d \u201cacquired immunodeficiency syndrome\u201d OR \u201cAIDS,\u201d \u201cHuman immunodeficiency virus\u201d OR \u201cHIV,\u201d \u201cCOVID\u201019,\u201d \u201cMeasles,\u201d \u201cHepatitis virus,\u201d \u201cCholera,\u201d \u201cHealth system improvement,\u201d and \u201cAfghanistan.\u201d Additionally, external sources like UNICEF, CDC, and WHO were referenced.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>In conclusion, while improving access to vital medicines and vaccines is crucial for enhancing health outcomes in Afghanistan, significant challenges must be addressed to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of such strategies. The Afghan health system's fragile governance, corruption, logistical complexities, and failure to address broader social and economic factors pose significant risks and obstacles to the implementation of proposed health strategies. Therefore, the strategies discussed in this analysis align with key Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3, and their successful implementation will have implications not only for the health and well\u2010being of Afghanistan but also for global health.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Hence, by adopting a comprehensive approach with complementary interventions as discussed, we can address issues in the Afghan health system and reduce transmissible diseases\u2019 burden, thereby building a better world for all.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/hsr2.1775","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,19]],"date-time":"2023-12-19T08:54:21Z","timestamp":1702976061000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":33,"title":["Infectious diseases in Afghanistan: Strategies for health system improvement"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6554-7619","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammad Yasir","family":"Essar","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dentistry Kabul University of Medical Sciences Kabul Afghanistan"},{"name":"Department of Global Health McMaster University  Hamilton Ontario Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9372-0362","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amna","family":"Siddiqui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine Karachi Medical and Dental College Karachi Pakistan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1189-0531","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Michael G.","family":"Head","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Informatics Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine University of Southampton Southampton UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_12_2_1","unstructured":"Afghanistan | History Map Flag Capital Population & Languages | Britannica [Internet]. 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