Famous Hospitals

In Pakistan, the best hospitals are often highly specialized, with certain institutions recognized as centers of excellence for specific diseases. The healthcare landscape includes both public and private sector facilities, which can differ significantly in cost and services.

Here is a list of top hospitals in Pakistan, categorized by their area of specialization:

Cardiology

National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi

  • Specialty:Heart disease, angioplasty, bypass surgery .
  • Sector/Info: Offers cost-free care for certain heart attacks via a network of satellite centers in Sindh .

Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC), Lahore

  • Specialty:Heart disease, advanced diagnostics .
  • Sector/Info:

Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi

  • Specialty:Heart disease, ICD placement, bypass surgery, angioplasty .
  • Sector/Info:

Cancer (Oncology)

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore & Peshawar

  • Specialty:Comprehensive cancer care (chemotherapy, surgery, radiation), advanced breast cancer surgery .
  • Sector/Info:Private/Charity. Offers treatment regardless of ability to pay, supported by fundraising .

JPMC Cyberknife & Tomotherapy Centre, Karachi

  • Specialty:Non-invasive robotic radiosurgery for tumors (brain, spine, lung, liver, prostate, pancreas) .
  • Sector/Info:Public (Patients’ Aid Foundation partnership). PET scans and robotic surgery sections often provided free .

NIMRA Cancer Hospital, Sindh

  • Specialty:Diagnosis, nuclear medicine, chemotherapy, radiotherapy .
  • Sector/Info:Public (Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission).

Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi

  • Specialty:Breast cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia (chemotherapy) .
  • Sector/Info:

Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad

  • Specialty:Breast cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia (chemotherapy) .
  • Sector/Info:

Kidney & Liver

Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Karachi

  • Specialty:Kidney treatment and transplantation, dialysis .
  • Sector/Info:

Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI), Lahore

  • Specialty:Kidney and liver diseases .
  • Sector/Info:

Neurology & Stroke

Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi

  • Specialty:Advanced stroke treatment, dedicated stroke unit .
  • Sector/Info:

Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS), Lahore

  • Specialty:Stroke treatment and rehabilitation .
  • Sector/Info:

Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi

  • Specialty:Advanced neurology department .
  • Sector/Info:

Neonatal & Pediatric Care

Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi

  • Specialty:Excellent Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) .
  • Sector/Info:

The Children’s Hospital, Lahore

  • Specialty:Dedicated NICU, specialized pediatric care .
  • Sector/Info:

Indus Hospital, Karachi

  • Specialty:Pediatric oncology, PICU, NICU, Type-1 Diabetes program (free insulin) .
  • Sector/Info:Private/Charity.

Orthopedics

Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Lahore

  • Specialty:Advanced orthopedic surgery .
  • Sector/Info:Public (Military).

Indus Hospital, Karachi

  • Specialty:Orthopedic surgery services .
  • Sector/Info:Private/Charity.

Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi

  • Specialty:Orthopedic surgery, total hip arthroplasty .
  • Sector/Info:

Eye Care

Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT)

  • Specialty:Leading eye care, branches across Pakistan .
  • Sector/Info:

Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi

  • Specialty:Eye care and treatment .
  • Sector/Info:

Major Public Hospitals

Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi

  • Sector/Info:One of the largest public facilities. Over 2,200 beds, serves over 2.2 million patients annually free of charge, though resources are stretched .

Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), Peshawar

  • Sector/Info:Major public tertiary care hospital in KPK. ~1,870 beds, provides free emergency medication and advanced diagnostics .

Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi

  • Sector/Info:A major private tertiary care hospital offering a wide range of specialties including ophthalmology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and pediatric care .

Cost and Access Considerations

  • Public vs. Private:Public hospitals (e.g., JPMC, NICVD, SIUT) are the primary providers for the general population and offer services either free or at highly subsidized rates. For example, JPMC provides its advanced Cyberknife treatment free of charge through a charitable foundation . However, these facilities are often overwhelmed with high patient volumes .
  • Private Hospitals:Private institutions (e.g., AKUH, Shifa, Liaquat National) generally offer more modern amenities, shorter wait times, and a wider range of sub-specialty consultations, but at a much higher cost . One patient reported private chemotherapy costing Rs 40,000 per session and radiotherapy costing Rs 15,000 per session .

Government Support: The government has introduced initiatives like the Sehat Sahulat Program to help cover inpatient care costs for the poor, particularly in provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan.