Peshawar, once a bustling hub for thousands of Afghan patients seeking medical care, now faces a stark reality. The city, a major medical hub, once attracted hundreds of Afghans regularly crossing the border for advanced treatments and seek experienced medical advice. Their sole destination for medical care always used to be some of the city’s top private hospitals, since seeking treatment at public sector hospitals has been restricted to bona fide citizens with national identity cards.

However, recent diplomatic tensions and subsequent border closures have practically stopped this flow, leaving patients and hospitals in a precarious situation.

“We chose Pakistan because it was easy,” says an Afghan patient, recalling the days when a medical checkup cost around $300, a fraction of the expense and bureaucratic hurdles compared to other countries that involved air tickets and advanced hospital appointment.

“We all came to Pakistan, even I was born here.” Before the online visa system, securing medical visas was straightforward. “We would go to the embassy, and they’d issue the visas.” This ease allowed many to access essential healthcare. However, the shift to an online system brought new challenges. “When you apply for a medical visa, you have to provide proper documentation”.

The patient’s narrative highlights the practical advantages of seeking care in Pakistan. “Residence was not a big problem; we had friends and relatives who helped us find good doctors.” Accommodation was readily available in guest houses and hotels.

The patient shared a personal anecdote of an Afghan compatriot, who had initially preferred surgery in another country. “I did not let him, and we came to Pakistan. A doctor said he needed surgery, but another said there was no need. The doctor even offered to do the surgery for free. In this way, Pakistan is very, very good for medical checkups.

“The availability of translators in hospitals further eased the process. While Afghanistan has made significant strides in medical care, particularly in kidney transplants, a critical need remains for cancer patients, who heavily rely on cancer hospitals in Pakistan. “They go there a lot,” the patient emphasises, highlighting the ongoing reliance on Pakistani healthcare despite improvements at home.

Shafiqueur Rehman, CEO of one of the city’s largest private sector hospital, said “Since its inception in 2002, we witnessed a steady increase in cross-border patient flow from Afghanistan, peaking in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Hospitals in Peshawar collectively saw thousands Afghan patients and their attendants each month.”

“Strict enforcement of passport and visa requirements initially led to a decline, but many patients adapted. Afghan patients continued to form a substantial proportion of patient volumes, sometimes a very large share of total patients in certain specialties,” he said.

Shafiqueur Rehman emphasised that “The number of Afghan patients able to access healthcare in Pakistan has dramatically reduced. Obtaining a Pakistani visa has become extremely difficult, and border-crossing procedures have become more restrictive.”

“Many patients are forced to explore alternatives such as India or other regional destinations, despite higher costs and more complex travel. Today, only a limited number of Afghan patients – mostly emergency or highly exceptional cases – are able to reach Pakistan for treatment,” he said.

“Our hospital developed dedicated facilitation services for Afghan patients beginning in 2002, including a shuttle service, liaison presence near the border, and language assistance. Interpreters were available on admission,” he said.

Situation at the city’s main private sector cancer hospital isn’t different either. According to official at a cancer hospital, “Over the past five years, the number of Afghan cancer patients treated at our hospitals in Lahore and Peshawar had shown a steady overall upward trend.”

“A closer look at recent data reveals a significant downward trend in new registrations during the latter half of the year, coinciding with the recent border closures in October and November 2025,” the official said.

The border closure and the strained relations between the two neighbours has not only impacted the number of Afghans coming to Pakistan to seek medical treatment but has also put into jeopardy many of the young Afghan boys and girls studying at medical and nursing institutions or working at private hospitals as medical technicians or interpreters.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2026