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Healthcare in Pakistan: cost & waiting times
Mixed public / privatePublic hospitals provide low-cost care, and provincial Sehat Sahulat ('Sehat Card') programmes pay for hospital treatment for registered families in several provinces. Most outpatient care is private and paid out of pocket; leading private hospitals in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad provide a high standard of care.
Emergency number: Ambulance/Fire 1122 · Police 15
How residents get care
- Private clinics and hospitals — Book doctors directly; no referral needed.
- Public hospitals — Low-cost but crowded; queues can be long.
- Sehat Card — Eligible families in participating provinces get free inpatient treatment at empanelled hospitals.
- Emergencies — Call 1122 (Rescue 1122) for an ambulance where the service operates.
Official waiting-time source
Pakistan doesn't publish waiting times; private care is quick.
No public waiting-time statistics ↗
Typical private costs
Typical self-pay prices — for an exact figure use the official links above or ask a clinic for a written quote.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Private GP / general consultation | PKR 1,500–PKR 3,000 |
| Private specialist consultation | PKR 2,500–PKR 6,000 |
| Private MRI (one area) | PKR 15,000–PKR 30,000 |
| Cataract surgery, per eye (private) | PKR 130,000–PKR 190,000 |
| Hip replacement (private) | PKR 660,000–PKR 850,000 |
Typical waits & prices by procedure
Typical averages for comparison, not quotes. Public care is free or nominal at the point of use unless noted. Private care has no standard queue — availability depends on the provider. Where an official statistic exists (UK, Ireland, Poland) the interactive guide shows it, dated and sourced.
| Procedure | Typical public wait | Typical private price |
|---|---|---|
| GP / primary-care appointment | ~7 days | PKR 3,300–PKR 6,600 |
| Specialist consultation (first) | ~127 days | PKR 9,900–PKR 16,000 |
| MRI scan (one area) | ~59 days | PKR 19,000–PKR 33,000 |
| CT scan | ~59 days | PKR 22,000–PKR 38,000 |
| Gastroscopy / endoscopy | ~88 days | PKR 88,000–PKR 130,000 |
| Cataract surgery (per eye) | ~176 days | PKR 130,000–PKR 190,000 |
| Knee arthroscopy | ~245 days | PKR 250,000–PKR 360,000 |
| Inguinal hernia repair | ~216 days | PKR 160,000–PKR 250,000 |
| Gallbladder removal | ~255 days | PKR 300,000–PKR 440,000 |
| Hip replacement | ~294 days | PKR 660,000–PKR 850,000 |
| Knee replacement | ~333 days | PKR 710,000–PKR 930,000 |
| Tonsillectomy | ~245 days | PKR 160,000–PKR 220,000 |
| Carpal tunnel release | ~235 days | PKR 99,000–PKR 150,000 |
| X-ray | ~20 days | PKR 4,400–PKR 8,200 |
| Ultrasound scan | ~39 days | PKR 8,200–PKR 15,000 |
| Echocardiogram | ~59 days | PKR 14,000–PKR 23,000 |
| Colonoscopy | ~98 days | PKR 99,000–PKR 150,000 |
| Coronary angiogram | ~59 days | PKR 140,000–PKR 210,000 |
| Varicose vein removal | ~196 days | PKR 160,000–PKR 250,000 |
| Lumbar disc surgery (discectomy) | ~265 days | PKR 490,000–PKR 710,000 |
| Rotator cuff repair (shoulder) | ~245 days | PKR 360,000–PKR 490,000 |
| Hysterectomy | ~196 days | PKR 380,000–PKR 580,000 |
| Vasectomy | ~98 days | PKR 22,000–PKR 38,000 |
| Bunion surgery | ~245 days | PKR 220,000–PKR 300,000 |
Prescriptions
Medicines are bought at pharmacies, generally at low cost; check they come from a reputable pharmacy.
Dental care
Dental care is mostly private and inexpensive.
Adult public dental cover: limited. Typical self-pay prices:
| Treatment | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Check-up + X-rays | PKR 2,195–PKR 4,940 |
| Scale & polish | PKR 3,295–PKR 6,590 |
| Filling | PKR 4,940–PKR 10,985 |
| Extraction | PKR 4,940–PKR 13,730 |
| Root canal | PKR 16,475–PKR 38,440 |
| Crown | PKR 21,965–PKR 49,425 |
| Implant (post only) | PKR 65,900–PKR 137,290 |
| Implant + crown | PKR 109,830–PKR 192,205 |
| Veneer (per tooth) | PKR 21,965–PKR 49,425 |
| Full denture (per arch) | PKR 27,460–PKR 65,900 |
Finding a doctor or specialist
Well-known hospital groups (listed, not vetted or ranked):
- Aga Khan University Hospital (Karachi) ↗
- Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital ↗
- Shifa International Hospital (Islamabad) ↗
Check a provider's inspection rating or registration with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council ↗.
Health insurance
Insurers and schemes people in Pakistan commonly use, and cover for visitors. Listed for comparison, not recommended — check the policy wording yourself.
| Insurer | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sehat Sahulat Program ↗ | National / public scheme | Government hospital cover for registered families. |
| Jubilee Life Insurance ↗ | Local health insurer | Health insurance. |
| EFU Life ↗ | Local health insurer | Health insurance. |
| Bupa Global ↗ | International / expat cover | International health plans. |
Visiting Pakistan?
Your entitlement: None — no agreement with the UK and the GHIC isn't valid. Visitors pay, usually at private hospitals.
EHIC / GHIC: EHIC/GHIC not valid.
Pharmacies: Pharmacies (chemists) are widespread.
Insurance: Travel insurance essential; check FCDO advice, as some areas are advised against and insurance may not cover them.
Useful links
- Sehat Sahulat Program ↗
- Pakistan Medical and Dental Council — doctor register ↗
- GOV.UK — Pakistan health ↗
Content last checked: 2026-10-02. Figures are typical/official-source references, not quotes — see the links above for the current real number.