Medical Tourism in Pakistan — Traveling for Treatment & How to Keep Your Belongings Safe
Thousands of Pakistanis travel to other cities for medical treatment. Planning medical trips, carrying records safely, hospital ward safety, and QR tags for patient belongings.
Major Medical Destinations Within Pakistan
Pakistanis routinely travel between cities for specialized medical care:
- Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital — Lahore (main campus) and Peshawar
- Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) — Karachi (no other city currently)
- PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) — Islamabad
- CMH (Combined Military Hospital) — multiple cities, for military families
- Jinnah Hospital Lahore — general and specialized referrals
- Liaquat National Hospital — Karachi, major national referral center
Planning the Medical Trip
- Book accommodation before travel — hospital areas in all cities have guesthouses catering specifically to patient families
- Shaukat Khanum Lahore: Patient Family Hostel on campus (contact: 042-35945100)
- AKUH Karachi: Guest House adjacent to hospital (021-34864000)
- Arrange an attendant (tameerdar) — most Pakistani hospitals require one for admitted patients
- For remote patients: Edhi Foundation provides free transport in some cities (115)
Carrying Medical Records Safely
Pakistani medical records exist in paper form almost entirely — lost records mean restarting expensive diagnostic processes.
- Scan all reports and X-ray CDs to email before travel
- Carry originals in a waterproof folder inside your carry-on — never in checked luggage
- Keep a summary sheet: diagnosis, current medications, allergies, blood group — on one page
- QR tag on medical record folder — if left behind at a counter, the hospital staff can immediately contact you
Hospital Ward Safety — Attendant's Belongings
Ward attendants sit beside patients for 12–24 hours at a stretch, often sleeping on the floor or a chair. The attendant's phone, wallet, and bag are highly vulnerable during sleep periods.
- Keep valuables (phone, wallet) inside clothing or under pillow while sleeping — never in the bag beside the bed
- Use a small padlock on your bag if it's on the floor
- Coordinate with other attendants in the ward to watch each other's belongings during brief absences
- QR tag on the attendant's bag — ward staff can contact you if found