By Ayesha Saba

A more than 1,000-bed Jinnah Medical Complex & Research Centre (JMCRC) is being developed in Islamabad at a cost of Rs212.734 billion, with plans to provide advanced tertiary and quaternary healthcare and help position the federal capital as a regional medical hub.

According to the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives' Monthly Development Update – August 2026, available with Wealth Pakistan, the flagship federal health-sector project will integrate advanced healthcare services with medical education, research and innovation.

The project, sponsored by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, is being executed by CDA/JMCRC Company in Sector H-16, Islamabad.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the project at Rs212.734 billion. Financing will come from the Federal Public Sector Development Programme as well as Corporate Social Responsibility contributions from the Pakistan Airports Authority, Port Qasim Authority and Karachi Port Trust.

The planned medical complex will offer tertiary and quaternary healthcare, which includes highly specialised treatment for patients requiring advanced medical expertise and facilities.

The centre has been designed around specialised Centres of Excellence in cardiology, oncology, neurosciences, transplantation and advanced surgical services, substantially expanding the availability of complex medical treatment in the public healthcare system.

One of the project's key objectives is to reduce outbound medical tourism by making advanced treatments available domestically. The Planning Ministry expects the facility to help position Islamabad as a regional medical hub by combining specialised clinical services with medical education and research.

The project is also expected to improve access to advanced healthcare for the general public. According to the document, expanding public-sector healthcare capacity through JMCRC would help reduce long waiting times, improve patient outcomes and enable people to receive specialised medical care closer to home.

Beyond hospital services, JMCRC is envisaged as a centre for medical education, professional training and research. This component is intended to help develop a skilled healthcare workforce and strengthen Pakistan's institutional capacity to deliver advanced health services.

The combination of clinical treatment, research and medical education is expected to allow the centre to contribute both to immediate healthcare delivery and longer-term development of the country's medical capabilities.

The project is also expected to generate employment opportunities and stimulate associated economic activity. The Planning Ministry links improvements in healthcare outcomes with higher workforce productivity and stronger human capital development, giving the project a wider socioeconomic role beyond the provision of medical treatment.

Once completed, the more than 1,000-bed complex is expected to add substantial specialised-care capacity to Islamabad's public health infrastructure while providing domestic access to treatments for which some patients currently seek healthcare abroad.

Credit: INP-WealthPk