Deputy Health Minister Meets Domestic Pharma Leaders to Boost Local Medicine Production

Mawlawi Hamdullah Zahid, Deputy Minister for Food and Drugs of the Ministry of Public Health, met with senior representatives of the country’s major domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers

The domestic companies are accredited with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification. The meeting, held in the conference hall of the Deputy Minister’s Office, aimed to reinforce government support for domestic production and to advance the growth of Afghanistan’s home-grown pharmaceutical sector.

Addressing the gathering, H.E. Deputy Minister Zahid emphasised the need to implement the directive of the esteemed Amir-ul-Mumineen, may Allah protect him. He noted that long-standing dependence on imported medicines has left the nation vulnerable, while investment in local production paves the way for genuine economic autonomy. He added that strengthening domestic manufacturing keeps capital circulating inside the country, creates employment opportunities, and ensures higher quality, improved safety and more reasonable pricing for consumers.

Company officials and representatives expressed gratitude for the Deputy Minister’s Office continued support, describing it as vital to the development of Afghanistan’s pharmaceutical industry. They affirmed that all four major factories are equipped with modern, state-of-the-art machinery and advanced technologies, enabling them to produce 217 types of essential medicines required by the national market—an increasingly important step as the country seeks to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. The manufacturers further pledged to guarantee sufficient supply, improved quality and competitive prices.

In response, the Deputy Minister’s Office assured them that additional items would soon be added to the list of products restricted from import—products for which domestic factories have the capacity to meet nationwide demand.

It is noteworthy that the number of pharmaceutical production facilities in Afghanistan now exceeds 110, with a combined output of more than 650 types of registered medicinal products, reflecting a rapidly expanding sector amid efforts to fortify national self-reliance.