Healthcare Quality in Peshawar: The Good, The Sketchy, and The ‘Yeah, Avoid That One’
i got dragged into writing this post after nearly passing out at a tiny clinic in university road. yeah, that’s the kind of healthcare situation we’re dealing with here. name’s ali, i’m a freelance photographer and honestly? sometimes i feel like dodging bullets just walking around this city. but when it comes to staying alive - not just surviving - you better know which medical spots are legit and which ones hand out bandaids like candy.
*let's start real. peshawar isn’t soft. it’s loud, dusty, and depending on the season, either blazing hot or cold enough to wish you’d packed an extra sweater. as of 2024, rent for a one-bedroom flat downtown is roughly ₨15,000-25,000/month, which isn’t outrageous if your income isn’t from street performing. crime has dropped since 2015, though safety still hinges on where you are and who you’re with. overall, things have stabilized.ish.
anyway… let’s talk about healthcare.
so what are the best hospitals & centers in peshawar?
well, first off, don’t expect polished marble everywhere. some places aren't fancy, but they get the job done.
1. lady reading hospital (lrh)
according to my friend fakhar - who's been there twice after choking on kebabs - lrh is solid. they actually listen. staff might seem grumpy, but they’re nearly always competent. someone told me once, "if you're hurt bad, that's where you want to go. just pray the queue isn't a tragedy line."
link: Lady Reading Hospital - Wikipedia
2. hayatabad medical complex (hmc)
word of mouth says hmc is decent if you’re in hayatabad or jehangirabad. price-wise, okay. service-wise... meh, depends. avoid the radiology dept during weekends. heard that from a guy who waited three hours and left muttering punjabi swear words under his breath.
Link: Peshawar Healthcare Review - Reddit Thread
3. khyber teaching hospital (kth)
this is the big daddy. old school bones-and-all vibe. heard a nurse say to another patient: “it’s not outpatient surgery day here unless someone loses their file.” still, reliable for serious stuff. equipment isn’t brand new, but experienced docs run the place.
Link: TripAdvisor - KTH Patient Reviews
4. cmh peshawar
army hospitals are generally okay, clean, and staff seem to work instead of nap in between patients. cmh sees civilians now and then, so depending on how military-friendly you feel, it could be a solid pick.
Link: Yelp Pakistan - CMH Review
final thoughts
my takeaway: use lrh for general or urgent care, hmc if you live nearby and don’t mind bureaucracy-induced headaches, kth if it’s scary-ex serious, and cmh only if you can tolerate standing in army-based orderliness.
oh and one more thing - set expectations accordingly. peshawar may lie just a few hours’ drive from islamabad and lahore, but culturally and infrastructurally? feels like traveling through time zones, not just roads.
anyway…
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