The French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) has admitted 28 doctors, 10 women and 18 men, in the fresh cohort of its Postgraduate Education Program, aimed at meeting the serious shortage of specialized healthcare personnel in Afghanistan.
In partnership with the Afghan Ministry of Public Health and the Aga Khan University (AKU) has so far graduated 74 specialist doctors across fields, including specialists in pathology, radiology, pediatric surgery, and anesthesia. These specialists have served both in private and public healthcare sectors, mitigating the shortfall of doctors to some extent.
The FMIC is run through an innovative four-way partnership between the Government of Afghanistan, the Government of France, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the French NGO, La Chaîne de l’Espoir. The Aga Khan University, based in Karachi, is responsible for managing the hospital.
Since the inauguration of FMIC in 2006, the hospital has played a significantly important role in providing standardized medical healthcare services to women and children, in particular. As a pioneer, the hospital has played a decisive role in constructing Afghanistan’s healthcare system and paving the way for the development of privatized hospitals and medical universities respectively.
Meanwhile, FMIC’s four founding partners continue to invest in the hospital. They remain committed to working together to chart a course toward sustainable healthcare solutions for Afghanistan.
Amid these critical times, the multilateral collaboration between the founding members of FMIC is of paramount importance because Afghanistan’s healthcare system is in dire need of healthcare professionals, equipment, donations, and more to keep the system running and offer the least service to the general public.—KP
