ABSTRACT
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan gained independence from Britain in 1919 and enjoyed relative stability until 1973. Since then, the country has experienced protracted military conflict and civil wars, resulting in the devastation of the health system and its infrastructure. In 2011, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) declared its mission "to improve the health of the people of Afghanistan through the provision of quality healthcare services and the promotion of healthy lifestyles in an equitable and sustainable manner". The Essential Package of Hospital Services (EPHS) focused on the infrastructure of hospitals and stated the type of service areas that must be available at all public hospitals. One of the reasons for the rapid growth of private healthcare facilities was a lack of regulatory policies and procedures, including licensure requirements and quality standards. From 2011 to 2013, the MoPH collaborated with the Afghan Private Hospital Association (APHA) to develop the minimum required standards (MRS) for private hospitals.
