Islamabad - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Public hospitals are of low quality but there are options for private clinics. My wife gave birth in Islamabad. The cost was high but without any complications. - Oct 2023
Barely anyone escapes a tour in Islamabad without a few bouts of serious gastrointestinal distress, so be prepared. You’re expected to basically use your R&Rs and home leave to get all medical care. The only people I ever heard of being medevaced were HVAC contractors in their 70s with cardiac problems. - Jun 2022
Prepare yourself to be sick a lot at post. Everyone gets multiple gastrointestinal ailments (The PakAttack). - Feb 2019
Smoking is allowed all over the US Embassy compound. It's very damaging for anyone with asthma, and exposes all staff to lung cancer-causing chemicals. - Jan 2017
Medical care at the embassy is good, though you will be medically evacuated for anything serious. Dental care is good and very affordable. - Sep 2016
There are not many health concerns: Islamabad has no malaria (unlike southern Pakistan, i.e., Sindh and Balochistan) and no polio (unlike Peshawar), HIV/AIDS is rare (not that you'd have many opportunities to catch it anyway!) and the air is clean. There are good physicians and dentists as well as some decent hospitals, Shifa being the best. But if you need something really complicated, say a heart surgery, you should fly to Dubai. - Sep 2015
I stopped going to the health unit after being repeatedly asked for stool samples instead of being treated for my problem. I have not been to the health unit in over a year. - Aug 2015
decent---all the doctors are trained in the U.S...... everyone suffers from the usual respiratory, cold viruses, stomach bugs. - Aug 2015
Everyone gets stomach issues here. Everyone. Just try to be careful where you eat and get to the med unit when you need it. - Apr 2014
Dengue fever and stomach bugs are the top concerns. - Feb 2014
Nothing specific. Everybody gets the "turista"at some point or another. Good dentist work cost almost as much as in the U.S. (the recommended dentists are husband and wife, educated in Britain). - Dec 2013
Some dengue and stomach bugs. - Mar 2012
Medical care is questionable at best. While the doctors may be US/UK-trained, the rest of the staff is not. They have to be watched at all times and are not to be trusted. The hospitals are of ok quality, but hey are dirty. The one positive thing I can say is that Islamabad does have a 24-hour imaging center with an MRI and a CAT scan machine. I know the embassy doc sends people there to get films done. - May 2011
Healthcare is really good. There is a fantastic dentist that everyone uses and loves. The hospital is not bad for simple problems. Every pill on earth is available over the counter, and the embassy doctors/nurses can tell you which brands are best. Some of my friends are even getting elective procedures like hair removal. - Jan 2010
Water needs to be bottled / purified, and all fruits and vegetables must be rinsed in purified water prior to consumption. Available medical care is of international standards. The hospital in Islamabad is excellent. - Oct 2009
Dengue, malaria, food and water borne illnesses, traffic accidents. Poor ambulance services. In the event of an accident/crisis, all injured parties are taken to PIMS (hospital). Standard of care does not generally meet western standards. Shifa hospital provides a higher quality of care. Some organizations provide access to their own clinics/medical personnel, which should be used to the maximum extent possible for the purposes of primary care. Direct flights to Bangkok available - this is the preferred option for any treatment other than urgent primary care. - Oct 2008
