Choosing a Paediatrician in Pakistan: What to Look For
Qualifications, location, and how they use antibiotics — a practical guide to choosing a paediatrician in Pakistan, and the red flags that should give you pause.
Choosing a Paediatrician in Pakistan: What to Look For
Your child's doctor will be one of your most important partners for years — for vaccines, illnesses, growth checks and all the questions in between. In a system where you can walk into many clinics without a referral, choosing well is worth a little effort. Here is what actually matters.
Check the qualifications
A paediatrician is a doctor who trained further, specifically in children's health. Look for:
- Registration with the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC, formerly the PMDC) — the basic legal requirement to practise.
- A specialist child-health qualification after their MBBS, such as FCPS (Paediatrics) from the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, or an MRCPCH from the UK. A general doctor can treat common problems, but for a specialist you want this training.
You can usually verify PMC registration online, and there is nothing wrong with politely asking about a doctor's qualifications.
Weigh the practical things
Even the best doctor is not much use if you cannot reach them when it counts.
- Distance: for a baby, a clinic or hospital you can get to quickly in an emergency matters more than a famous name across the city.
- Timings: are there evening or weekend hours that fit your family? How long is the usual wait?
- Emergencies: what happens after hours — is there a hospital link or a number to call?
- Vaccines: does the clinic follow the EPI schedule and store vaccines properly in a reliable cold chain?
- Cost: private consultation fees vary widely, so ask up front — and remember government and trust hospitals offer excellent paediatric care at low or no cost.
Questions worth asking
On the first visit, notice how the doctor responds when you:
- Ask them to explain a diagnosis or medicine in plain Urdu
- Ask whether an antibiotic is truly necessary
- Ask how to reach them if the baby worsens tonight
A good doctor welcomes questions rather than brushing them off.
Red flags
Be cautious of a doctor who:
- Reaches for antibiotics for every cough, cold or loose motion. Most such illnesses are viral, and overusing antibiotics is a serious, growing problem in Pakistan.
- Prescribes a long list of tonics, syrups and "taqat" medicines that healthy children rarely need.
- Will not explain what they are giving or why, or is dismissive of your concerns.
- Rushes you out without examining the baby properly.
Build the relationship
Once you find a doctor you trust, keep going back so they know your child's history — it makes every future visit safer and quicker. Carry your baby's vaccination card and growth records to each appointment.
The right paediatrician is qualified, reachable, honest about when medicine is and isn't needed, and willing to treat you as a partner. It is perfectly reasonable to meet more than one before you settle — this is a relationship you will rely on for a long time.