KABUL (Pajhwok) — Iran’s public health minister on Wednesday offered 500 medical educational scholarships to Afghan students, saying his country was ready to equip some hospitals in capital Kabul.

A statement from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) office to Pajhwok Afghan News said the Iranian public health minister made the offer at a meeting with CEO Abdullah Abdullah.

The statement said the Iranian minister would also sign an agreement about medicines with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) during his visit.

“Our goal is to empower Afghanistan in medical treatment and education as well as promoting domestic production of medicines”, the statement quoted Dr. Sayed Hussain Qazizada Hashemi (سیّد حسین قاضیزادۀ هاشمی), public health minister of Iran, as saying.

CEO Abdullah thanked Iran for its support to Afghanistan in various areas and said the neighbouring country’s cooperation in medical equipment and education was important for Afghanistan.

Abdullah also thanked the Iranian Ministry of Public Health for cooperating with the Afghanistan public health sector and said medicines imported from Iran were of good quality. He said opportunities available in educational programs should be properly used.