Afghan women told to ‘go home’ after de facto ban on male doctors treating them
The unofficial Taliban restriction has forced women into desperate and absurd situations as they seek medical help, according to interviews given to the Guardian and Zan Times
TL;DR
- An unofficial Taliban ban on male doctors treating female patients is spreading across Afghanistan.
- Women are being turned away from clinics, leaving treatments unfinished.
- Dentists and doctors face warnings and threats of imprisonment from Taliban security forces.
- Restrictions include requiring a male guardian (mahram) for female patients and limiting interactions.
- In Balkh province, female patients are reportedly being referred to as 'Bibi' instead of by their names.
- Women are also being restricted from studying medicine and working in healthcare.
- The situation forces women to choose between risky treatments, unqualified providers, or living with untreated conditions.
- Taliban declarations that male doctors treating female patients would be exempt appear to be contradicted by practice.