🏥 COMPLETE GUIDE TO HOSPITAL REGISTRATION IN PAKISTAN

A detailed, step-by-step guide covering provincial laws, regulatory bodies, and recent updates

⚠️ Important Disclaimer

The information provided below is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be treated as a hard‑and‑fast rule. Hospital registration requirements vary based on location, size, and nature of services. Laws, fees, and procedures may change through legislation or regulatory updates. Every hospital is unique – always consult a qualified lawyer or professional healthcare consultant for advice on your specific situation.

1. Overview: Why Register a Hospital?

Operating a hospital without proper registration is illegal in Pakistan. Each province has established a Healthcare Commission under its respective provincial act to regulate healthcare establishments. These commissions ensure that hospitals meet Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) for patient safety, infection control, staff qualifications, and operational protocols.

Key consequences of operating without registration include:

• Fines up to PKR 500,000
• Sealing of the facility
• Legal prosecution
• Ineligibility for government health programs (e.g., Sehat Card)

2. Provincial Healthcare Commissions – The Primary Regulators

Each province has its own healthcare commission with independent registration requirements. These commissions are the primary licensing authorities for hospitals in their respective jurisdictions.

Punjab – Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC)

Aspect	Details
Governing Law	Punjab Healthcare Commission Act, 2010
Website	phc.org.pk
Contact	042-99333161-68, 185 Ahmed Block, New Garden Town, Lahore
Registration Requirement	Mandatory for all hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, and laboratories before operations

Key Documents Required:

• Ownership documents
• CNICs of owners/directors
• Staff roster with qualifications and council registrations
• Floor plan and facility layout
• Equipment list
• Fee receipts

Licensing Process:

1. Registration on PHC e-Portal
2. Submission of facility and ownership details
3. Review of staff credentials
4. On‑site inspection against MSDS standards
5. Corrective actions (if required)
6. License issuance upon satisfactory compliance

Non‑compliance consequences can lead to fines, suspension of services, or shutdown of the facility.

Sindh – Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC)

Aspect	Details
Governing Law	SHCC Act, 2013
Website	shcc.org.pk
Registration Requirement	Mandatory for all healthcare establishments (public and private)

Recent Development: The SHCC launched an online platform for registration and licensing in June 2025 through a partnership with the World Bank‑funded CLICK project, replacing manual, time‑consuming procedures.

Two‑Stage Licensing Process:

1. Registration: Application on prescribed form → Registration Certificate issued in approximately two weeks
2. Provisional License: Issued after registration → HCE receives Sindh Service Delivery Standards (SSDS) manual and time period for implementation
3. Regular License: Issued when the HCE meets all SSDS requirements after inspection

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – KP Healthcare Commission (KPHCC)

Aspect	Details
Governing Law	KP Health Care Commission Act, 2015
Website	hcc.kp.gov.pk
Registration Requirement	Mandatory for all healthcare establishments (public and private)

Recent Developments:

• As of January 1, 2026, all hospitals must be licensed by the KPHCC to remain on or join the Sehat Card Plus panel
• In the last quarter of 2025, 785 medical centers were newly registered, bringing the total registered medical centers in the province to 21,442
• 7,544 medical centers were inspected, with 1,650 sealed and 3,523 issued notices for various violations

Balochistan – Balochistan Healthcare Commission (BHCC)

Aspect	Details
Governing Law	Balochistan Healthcare Commission Act, 2019
Registration Requirement	Mandatory for all healthcare establishments

Current Status:

• A total of 1,540 hospitals, laboratories, and medical centers are registered with BHCC
• However, 1,529 of these facilities do not meet basic treatment standards
• In March 2026, after detailed inspection of 25 facilities, 16 were granted provisional licenses (2 public hospitals, 12 private hospitals, 1 single‑specialty clinic, 1 general practitioner clinic)

Islamabad Capital Territory – Federal Regulators

Aspect	Details
Primary Authority	Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination
Relevant Laws	Various federal laws (PMDC Ordinance, PNC Act, Drugs Act, etc.)

Unlike provinces, Islamabad does not yet have a dedicated healthcare commission, but hospitals must obtain licenses from multiple federal authorities.

3. Staff & Professional Licensing – Individual Registrations

Before a hospital can operate, its professional staff must be individually registered with their respective councils.

Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC)

Aspect	Details
Role	Maintains the official register of medical and dental practitioners in Pakistan
Legal Requirement	No doctor can legally practice in Pakistan without being registered with PMDC
Governing Law	Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance, 1962
Registration Guidelines	Chapter IX, Pakistan Registration of Medical and Dental Practitioners Regulations, 2008

For Hospital Owners: All medical and dental staff must provide valid PMDC registration numbers as part of hospital licensing documentation.

Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council (PNMC)

Aspect	Details
Recent Development	The Senate passed the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Bill, 2026 in May 2026, modernizing the regulatory framework
New Powers	The reconstituted council now has clear legal authority to shut down illegal institutions, cancel fraudulent registrations, and strictly enforce educational and professional standards
Requirement	All nursing and midwifery staff must be registered with PNMC

Pakistan Pharmacy Council (PPC)

Aspect	Details
Role	Regulates pharmacy education and professional practice
Requirement	Pharmacists working in hospital pharmacies must be registered

Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC)

Aspect	Details
Recent Development	The AHPC online registration portal became functional on March 10, 2026
Requirement	All allied health professionals (lab technicians, radiographers, physiotherapists, etc.) must be registered
Process	Institutions must apply for approval through the online portal and upload deposit slips

4. Pharmacy & Drug Licensing – DRAP

Aspect	Details
Regulator	Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP)
Governing Law	Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan Act, 2012; Drugs Act, 1976
Primary Functions	Registration and licensing of drugs, medical devices, and health products; ensuring compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP); monitoring quality, safety, and efficacy

For Hospitals:

• All medicines stocked must be DRAP‑registered.
• The hospital's in‑house pharmacy must maintain proper licensing.
• Medical devices and equipment must meet DRAP standards.

5. Allied Health Professionals Council (AHPC) – Details

The AHPC registration portal became fully functional on 10th March 2026. Here is the detailed step‑by‑step process for institutional registration:

Step 1 – Obtain Login Credentials

• Institutions must apply for approval by sending a request from their official email ID
• The request must include the institution's official website and official email ID
• Login credentials are shared on the email ID against which the request has been launched

Step 2 – Complete the Online Application

• After receiving login credentials, log in to the account
• Fill out the application carefully
• Choose desired programs of specific disciplines for which registration is sought

Step 3 – Fee Payment

• A fee invoice will appear in the portal
• Deposit the fee into the mentioned bank account
• Upload the deposit slip via the online portal

Step 4 – Application Processing

• Necessary requirements for applications are available in the accreditation manual
• Applications are processed by the AHPC

Contact Details

• Address: PHRC Building, Opp. Radio Pakistan, Shahra-e-Jamhuriat, Sector G-5/2, Islamabad
• Phone: (051) 9216775

6. Environmental Clearance – Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak‑EPA)

Aspect	Details
Governing Law	Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997
Regulations	Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Review of IEE and EIA) Regulations, 2000

Applicability:

• Most hospitals with 50 beds or more require an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) approval
• Large hospitals may require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Hospital waste management must comply with Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2005

Step‑by‑Step Process:

1. Determine whether IEE or EIA is required based on hospital size
2. Prepare the environmental assessment report
3. Submit application to the provincial EPA
4. Pay applicable fee (IEE fee approx. PKR 10,000; EIA fee approx. PKR 15,000)
5. Obtain No‑Objection Certificate (NOC) before hospital operations

7. Building Approvals & Fire Safety

Capital Development Authority (CDA) – For ICT

For hospitals in Islamabad, building plans must be approved by CDA before construction or operation.

Provincial Building Control Authorities

Each province has its own building control authority that must approve hospital construction plans.

Fire Safety Department

Requirement	Details
Fire NOC	Mandatory for all hospitals from the provincial fire department
Equipment	Fire extinguishers, alarms, and emergency exits as per building codes
Staff Training	Fire safety drills and trained fire marshals

 

8. Municipal & Local Government Licenses

Trade License

Issued by the local municipal corporation or district council, this license is required for any commercial establishment, including hospitals.

Health Trade License

A specific license issued by the district health officer in coordination with the respective healthcare commission.

 

9. Other Licenses & Registrations

NADRA Registration

Hospitals must integrate with NADRA for patient identity verification. In some provinces, patient CNIC is mandatory for OPD slips.

Blood Bank License

If a hospital operates a blood bank, separate registration with the provincial blood safety authority is required.

Radiology Equipment Registration

X‑ray machines and other radiology equipment must be registered with the relevant authority.

 

10. Recent Developments & Important Updates (2025–2026)

Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council Bill, 2026 – Passed by Senate in May 2026

Established a modernized regulatory framework for nursing and midwifery education, training, and licensing, with legal authority to shut down illegal institutions and cancel fraudulent registrations.

AHPC Online Registration Portal – Functional from March 10, 2026

Institutions can now apply online for registration of allied health professionals.

SHCC Online Registration – Launched in June 2025

Online platform for registration and licensing of clinics and private hospitals across Sindh, replacing manual, time‑consuming procedures.

KP HCC Licensing Mandatory for Sehat Card Plus – Effective January 1, 2026

All hospitals must be licensed by KPHCC to remain on or join the Sehat Card Plus panel.

KPHCC Inspections – 7,544 medical centers inspected in last quarter of 2025

1,650 sealed, 3,523 issued notices, and 785 newly registered, bringing total to 21,442 medical centers.

BHCC Provisional Licenses – March 2026

After detailed inspection of 25 facilities, 16 were found compliant and granted provisional licenses.

11. Practical Guidance – Registration Steps in Summary

Step	Action	Authority	Estimated Time
1	Choose hospital location and obtain building approvals	CDA (ICT) / Provincial Building Control	2‑6 months
2	Apply for provincial healthcare commission registration	PHC / SHCC / KPHCC / BHCC	2‑4 weeks (initial registration)
3	Obtain provisional license from healthcare commission	PHC / SHCC / KPHCC / BHCC	2‑4 weeks
4	Register all professional staff	PMDC, PNMC, PPC, AHPC	2‑4 weeks
5	Obtain environmental clearance (if applicable)	Pak‑EPA / Provincial EPA	1‑3 months
6	Obtain fire safety NOC	Fire Department	2‑4 weeks
7	Obtain trade license	Municipal Corporation	2‑4 weeks
8	Implement MSDS/SSDS standards	Healthcare Commission	3‑12 months
9	Final inspection by healthcare commission	PHC / SHCC / KPHCC / BHCC	1‑2 weeks
10	Receive regular license	PHC / SHCC / KPHCC / BHCC	Upon satisfactory inspection

12. Consequences of Non‑Registration

Violation	Consequences
Operating without healthcare commission license	Fines up to PKR 500,000; sealing of facility; legal prosecution
Employing unregistered medical staff	Penalties; staff may be barred from practicing
Operating without fire NOC	Facility can be sealed; criminal liability
Non‑compliance with MSDS/SSDS	Suspension of services; repeated inspections; fines
Ineligible for government health programs	Cannot join Sehat Card panel; loss of revenue

 

💡 The EasyQanoon.pk Team Is Always Available

Navigating hospital registration in Pakistan involves multiple regulatory bodies – provincial healthcare commissions, PMDC, PNMC, PPC, AHPC, DRAP, EPA, municipal authorities, and more. Our legal team can help you:

• ✅ Choose the right location and obtain building approvals
• ✅ Prepare and submit applications to the relevant healthcare commission
• ✅ Register all professional staff with PMDC, PNMC, PPC, and AHPC
• ✅ Obtain environmental clearance and fire safety NOC
• ✅ Ensure compliance with MSDS/SSDS standards
• ✅ Navigate appeals if your application is rejected
• ✅ Renew licenses and maintain ongoing compliance

Serving clients nationwide – remote consultations available.

This guide is for general informational purposes only. Laws may change through legislation or regulatory updates. Fees and procedures are subject to change. Every hospital is different. Always seek personalized legal advice from a qualified lawyer or professional healthcare consultant.