Punjab Healthcare Commission licence for clinics
Every healthcare establishment in Punjab, public or private, needs a licence from the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC). Here are the steps, the standards and the fees, from PHC’s own pages.
How to get a PHC licence
PHC says the whole process can take up to six months from the provisional licence, depending on its schedule. A regular licence lasts five years, and renewal needs a full inspection and the fee again.
- Register: the owner, manager or person in charge registers the clinic with PHC. There is no fee at this step.
- Apply for a licence, with the prescribed documents and fee.
- Receive a provisional licence and the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) for your type of facility.
- Nominate staff for MSDS training and put the standards in place.
- PHC surveyors carry out a pre-assessment and help you find the gaps.
- A formal inspection follows. Partial compliance leads to a conditional licence, and full compliance to a regular licence.
PHC licensing fees
These are five-year fees from PHC’s schedule, effective 28 December 2021. Common clinic types are shown here, so check the full list before you pay.
| Type of establishment | Fee (5 years) |
|---|---|
| Family physician or single GP clinic | PKR 10,000 |
| Single speciality clinic | PKR 40,000 |
| Poly clinic | PKR 50,000 |
| Dental clinic, single chair | PKR 10,000 |
| Dental clinic, multiple chairs | PKR 40,000 |
| Maternity home, nursing home or MCHC | PKR 25,000 |
| Pathology lab | PKR 50,000 |
| Hospital, up to 15 beds | PKR 50,000 |
| Hospital, 16 to 30 beds | PKR 100,000 |
| Hospital, 31 to 49 beds | PKR 200,000 |
If you do not comply
If a clinic fails to put the MSDS in place within the set period, PHC may fine it up to PKR 500,000 or order it closed until it meets the standards. A clinic also pays for repeat visits to check compliance, and it can appeal a decision.
Records help at inspection
Inspectors look at how a clinic actually runs, so keep patient records, consent forms and staff credentials organised and easy to find. Start by checking every doctor on the PMDC register.
What to do next
Run your clinic on SehatDoc
Appointments, records, prescriptions and billing in one system, from PKR 4,000 a month.
See the featuresCommon questions
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Is PHC registration free?
Yes. PHC charges no fee at registration. The fee is paid for the licence, and it depends on the type of facility.
How long does a PHC licence last?
A regular licence is valid for five years. Renewal needs a full PHC inspection and the fee.
Does a single-doctor clinic need a PHC licence?
Yes. All healthcare establishments in Punjab need one. PHC lists a five-year fee of PKR 10,000 for a family physician or single GP clinic.
What is MSDS?
Minimum Service Delivery Standards: the standards PHC sets for each type of healthcare facility. Inspectors check against them before giving a regular licence.
I am in Sindh or another province. Does this apply?
No. This guide is for Punjab only. Other provinces have their own healthcare commissions and rules.
Try it with next week’s patients
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