Every hospital, clinic, laboratory and other healthcare establishment in Islamabad must be registered with the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) and, in time, hold its licence. In 2026 IHRA issued final warnings to unregistered facilities, published lists of establishments that had not completed their documentation, and sealed premises that failed basic requirements. Later in the year the federal health ministry directed IHRA’s Registration Board to clear pending registration and licensing cases. If you run, or plan to open, a healthcare facility in the federal capital, this guide explains what IHRA requires and how the process works.
Quick answer: Under the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Act, 2018, every healthcare establishment in the Islamabad Capital Territory must register with IHRA and obtain a licence to operate. Registration comes first: you apply with details of the facility, its owner, its full-time doctors and staff, and pay the fee for your category. Licensing follows after training on IHRA’s quality healthcare service standards, a pre-assessment and a formal inspection. A licence is valid for five years. Operating without registration or a licence can lead to closure, fines of up to Rs 1 million and, for establishing an unregistered facility, imprisonment.
Which facilities need IHRA registration?
The Act defines healthcare establishments broadly. It covers public and private facilities, including:
- Hospitals, teaching hospitals, maternity and nursing homes.
- GP clinics, single-specialty clinics and polyclinics.
- Dental, physiotherapy, psychology, nutrition, audiology and optometry clinics.
- Clinical laboratories, collection centres, imaging and diagnostic centres.
- Dialysis centres, rehabilitation centres and blood banks.
- Laser, aesthetic, slimming and hair transplant clinics.
- Homeopathic clinics and hakeem matabs.
- Home-based and domiciliary care, ambulance and telemedicine services.
The federal government can add further categories by notification. A licence is issued for a stated kind of establishment and cannot be used for a different purpose, so a GP clinic that adds aesthetic procedures or a laboratory must update its registration.
Registration vs licence
| Stage | What it means | What IHRA looks at |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | The establishment is recorded with IHRA and allowed to proceed | Application form, ownership, premises, qualified staff, fee |
| Licence | Formal permission to operate as a healthcare establishment | Implementation of quality healthcare service standards (QHSS), verified by inspection |
IHRA has for some time registered establishments provisionally while it builds licensing capacity. Do not treat provisional registration as optional or permanent: it is the step that keeps you on the right side of the Act while licensing catches up, and IHRA has acted against facilities that have neither.
Documents and information you will need
- The IHRA application form for your category, such as the form for establishments with no indoor facility.
- Owner’s CNIC and, for firms and companies, partnership or SECP documents.
- Proof of the premises, and owner’s consent if the healthcare service provider is not the owner.
- Details of full-time and visiting doctors, nurses and technical staff, with their registration numbers from PMDC, PNMC, NCH, NCT or other relevant councils.
- List of services offered and equipment, including any imaging or laser equipment.
- Fee deposit receipt for the category.
Every clinician you list must hold valid professional registration. Unqualified staff are among the main reasons IHRA seals premises.
The licensing process
- Apply and register with IHRA in the correct category.
- Training. IHRA invites the establishment to nominate staff for training on its quality healthcare service standards.
- Pre-assessment. IHRA’s team reviews the facility and identifies gaps against QHSS.
- Implementation period. The establishment is given reasonable time to close the gaps.
- Formal inspection. If the required level of compliance is shown, the establishment becomes eligible for a licence.
Refusing an inspection is itself a ground for suspension or refusal of renewal, so plan for inspectors to visit during working hours.
What QHSS inspections typically cover
- Qualified, registered staff on duty, with records of their credentials.
- Patient registration, consent, medical records and confidentiality.
- Infection control, sterilisation and biomedical waste management.
- Maintenance and calibration of equipment.
- Fire safety, emergency equipment and procedures.
- Display of services, fees and complaint mechanisms.
Fees, validity and renewal
IHRA charges a registration fee and a separate, non-refundable licence fee that depend on the type and size of the establishment. Single-practitioner clinics pay far less than hospitals, and dental clinics are charged by number of chairs. IHRA has consulted on a revised fee structure, so confirm the current schedule before you apply.
A licence is valid for five years. Apply for renewal before it expires, pay the renewal fee and continue to meet IHRA requirements. Changes to the name, address or category need a variation application.
Penalties for operating without registration
The Act provides for a fine of up to Rs 1 million or closure for operating without a licence, and up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 1 million, or both, for establishing a healthcare establishment without registration or a licence. Licences can also be suspended or revoked for serious negligence, failing QHSS, misrepresentation or refusing inspection.
Related approvals you may need
- Drug sale licence if the clinic sells medicines. See our drug sale licence guide.
- Medical device registration if you import or manufacture devices. See our DRAP medical device guide.
- Company and tax registration for the business running the facility, including sales tax on services in Islamabad where cosmetic and similar services are taxable.
Frequently asked questions
Is IHRA registration mandatory for clinics in Islamabad?
Yes. Every healthcare establishment in the Islamabad Capital Territory, public or private, must register with IHRA and obtain a licence under the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Act, 2018.
How long is an IHRA licence valid?
An IHRA licence is valid for five years and must be renewed before it expires.
What is the difference between IHRA registration and licence?
Registration records the establishment with IHRA. A licence is granted later, after QHSS training, pre-assessment and a formal inspection show the required compliance.
What happens if a clinic operates without IHRA registration?
IHRA can seal the facility. The Act provides fines of up to Rs 1 million, and establishing a facility without registration or a licence can attract up to five years’ imprisonment.
Do aesthetic and laser clinics need IHRA registration?
Yes. Laser, aesthetic, slimming and hair transplant clinics are healthcare establishments under the Act and IHRA has acted against unregistered ones.
How CEC can help
Connect Engineers & Consultants prepares IHRA applications, checks staff credentials and premises against QHSS before inspection, and coordinates related approvals such as drug sale licences. See our healthcare licensing services.
Opening a clinic or received an IHRA notice? Contact us and we will help you regularise quickly.
IHRA procedures and fees are revised from time to time. Always confirm current requirements on IHRA’s website. This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice.
[…] is often the deciding factor. Our guides to oil and ghee packaging and spices packaging show how barrier choices affect shelf […]
Comments are closed.