Taliban Exclude Women from Medical Licensing Exam for Sixth Consecutive Cycle
Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has again barred female medical graduates from registering for the national exit exam, a mandatory requirement for obtaining medical licenses, Amu TV reported. The National Examination Authority’s announcement this week made no provision for women’s participation, continuing a policy enforced since early 2022.
The decision affects over 1,200 trained female doctors, leaving them unable to practice despite Afghanistan’s severe healthcare shortages. Rural areas face particular crises, where cultural norms prevent women from consulting male physicians. The UN reports maternal mortality rates of 620 deaths per 100,000 live births—triple the global average—with experts attributing the crisis partly to the lack of female healthcare providers.
“They’ve erased our futures,” said Dr. Amina (name changed), a 2023 graduate who has been blocked from three exam cycles. Her case reflects thousands of women barred from universities, NGO work, and now professional certification under Taliban rule.
International health organizations warn the policy is collapsing Afghanistan’s healthcare infrastructure. The World Health Organization notes a 65% drop in female health workers since 2021, with rural clinics shuttering due to staffing gaps.
Despite appeals from the UN and humanitarian groups, Taliban officials reaffirmed the ban this month, citing “Islamic principles.” No exemptions exist, even for critical specialties like obstetrics. With the next exam scheduled for August, Afghanistan’s women remain locked out of medicine—and its patients face escalating risks.
