The quality and price of healthcare in Pakistan depend on several factors. Those living in larger cities will find that the healthcare available is adequate, whereas in rural areas, it can be extremely poor.
Pakistan has worked for years to improve access to healthcare and advance universal coverage. There has been real progress, but it has progressed slowly. Coverage has reached tens of millions more people over the past decade, but the system is still far short of the government’s targets, and many low-income families have to budget for steep out-of-pocket costs.
Emergency response is unreliable, and there is a limited number of ambulances. In an emergency, it can often be a more prudent option than taking a taxi or driving to the hospital.
Health insurance in Pakistan
Most expats moving to Pakistan for work will likely have their health insurance covered by their employers as part of their employment contract. For expats whose employers will not cover private health insurance, the cost can be high. Other factors affecting the cost of health insurance are one’s health status and lifestyle habits.
Pakistan also runs a public scheme, the Sehat Sahulat Programme (SSP), aimed at low-income families rather than expats. This programme provides free healthcare to qualifying families for a wide range of services, including GP visits, maternity care, emergency services and inpatient hospital services. The scheme has been reshaped in recent years, and what it covers now varies from province to province.
Public healthcare in Pakistan
While Pakistan offers both public and private options, most expats opt for the latter. In fact, most expats employed by international companies or diplomatic missions in Pakistan will have comprehensive health insurance, so they won’t need to use public facilities while in the country.
There are government-run hospitals that are low cost and offer basic medical treatment, but standards are typically quite low and not in line with what most expats, especially those from Western countries, would be accustomed to. Medical staff at public hospitals in Pakistan may also not be well trained.
Private healthcare in Pakistan
Pakistan has many expensive private medical facilities, mostly in larger cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi. It is highly recommended that expats take out comprehensive private health insurance if their employer doesn’t provide it. Medical insurance should also include coverage for emergency medical evacuation to a nearby country with superior facilities.
Pharmacies and medication in Pakistan
Pharmacies are readily available in urban centres, but qualified personnel are often in short supply. Pakistanis usually call a pharmacy a ‘medical store’ or ‘chemist’, so look for those terms on shopfronts.
Anyone travelling to outlying rural areas for extended periods should pack basic medications. Those living in rural areas may need to travel to larger towns to fill prescriptions.
There have been some improvements recently. Online services have reduced the need for people to physically visit a pharmacy, and people can instead have their medication delivered to them, at least in urban areas.
Some medicines go by a different brand name in Pakistan. Bring an ample supply when you move, and ask a local doctor about equivalents you can get there. Enforcement of prescription rules is patchy, and many medicines that need a prescription elsewhere, antibiotics among them, are often sold over the counter; that is convenient, but it makes it worth knowing exactly what you are taking.
Health hazards in Pakistan
Malaria is a risk across much of the country and becomes more of an issue after the monsoon floods. It's worst in rural and low-lying areas.
Polio and dengue fever are also endemic in Pakistan. Dengue tends to peak during and after the monsoon, roughly from July to November. Tap water in the country is also considered unsafe to drink. Expats should avoid ice in their drinks at restaurants and purchase bottled water.
Earthquakes and flooding are other health hazards in Pakistan. Monitor the local news and follow the authorities’ instructions when there are earthquake or flood warnings.
Air pollution is a serious and often underestimated hazard, most of all in winter. Lahore and other cities in Punjab are among the most polluted on earth during the smog season, and Karachi gets its fair share. Children and older people are most affected, as are those with heart or lung conditions.
Vaccinations in Pakistan
Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world where polio cases are still found. Expats must ensure they are vaccinated against the disease before travelling to the country.
No vaccinations are required to enter Pakistan, but check the latest entry rules before you fly, as they can change at short notice. The bigger thing to plan for is leaving: because polio is still in circulation in Pakistan, many countries (the UK and EU states among them) ask travellers who have spent four weeks or more there to show proof of a polio jab given within the previous year. Keep your routine vaccinations current as well.
Take sensible precautions against cholera, too: wash your hands often, and steer clear of food and water that might not be safe. There is a cholera vaccine, so ask a travel health clinic whether it is worth it for you, particularly if you are heading to flood-prone areas.
Pakistan is also on alert for measles and typhoid; expats must be up to date with their vaccinations. Other essential vaccinations for travelling to Pakistan are:
- Rabies
- Influenza
- Chickenpox
- Shingles
- Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
Useful links
- WHO Pakistan: Country Health Profile
- CDC: Pakistan Traveller Health Information
- IQAir: Live Air Quality in Pakistan
Emergency medical services in Pakistan
Pakistan has different emergency numbers depending on the service and region, but Rescue 1122 is the most widespread and now reaches most provinces, including Sindh, so dial 1122 in an emergency. The Edhi Foundation runs the country’s largest ambulance network and answers on 115, free of charge. In Karachi, Chhipa (1020) is another well-known option. There are both public and private ambulance services in Pakistan, but most are run by NGOs.
While this does help address the high number of medical emergencies reported daily in the country, many of the staff are untrained and unable to provide pre-hospital advanced life support. For this reason, expats with comprehensive private health insurance should use private ambulance services whenever possible.