Online Desk: Afghan authorities will build at least 285 health centres in several provinces of Afghanistan, local TOLOnews TV channel on Saturday quoted the country’s top health official as saying.

Qalandar Ibad, acting minister of public health, said the ministry is urging trained and professional doctors abroad to come back to their homeland amid a shortage of medics, the media outlet reported.

The official also noted that 45,000 medical beds are needed to treat patients across the country when the number of medical beds is less than 30 per cent of the expected quantity, reports Xinhua.

According to a plan released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 14 million people in Afghanistan, including 7.5 million children and 3.1 million women, are currently targeted for health assistance by the organisation.