Once operational, the hospital will provide comprehensive medical care across 28 clinical specialties, including cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, and maternal health
London’s Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is set to play a key role in shaping the future of healthcare provision in Pakistan through an agreement with Novacare, a major healthcare provider in the region. The collaboration will see Imperial offer specialist expertise in hospital planning, clinical staffing, and training to Novacare, with financial returns from the partnership being reinvested into NHS services back in the UK.
The agreement forms part of a wider initiative to export British healthcare standards internationally, while also delivering tangible benefits for the UK’s National Health Service.
The new hospital, being developed by Novacare in Islamabad, is scheduled to open its doors in 2026. Once operational, it will provide comprehensive medical care across 28 clinical specialties, including cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, and maternal health. The state-of-the-art facility will incorporate advanced infrastructure such as smart building management systems, AI-optimised vertical transportation, and cutting-edge technologies for infection control and fall prevention.
Speaking during a visit to the hospital site, British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, hailed the project as an example of the UK’s global healthcare leadership and its commitment to strengthening health systems internationally.
“This agreement is bringing the UK’s world-leading healthcare expertise to Pakistan, and in turn, supporting the NHS,” Marriott said. “Through sharing the NHS’s cutting-edge clinical best practices and helping to develop staff, this agreement will directly help to save lives.”
The partnership includes a range of opportunities for knowledge sharing and clinical collaboration. Novacare’s medical teams will be able to observe multidisciplinary team meetings conducted by Imperial, gain access to second opinions from UK-based specialists, and participate in training aligned with NHS protocols. There are also provisions for complex cases to be referred to Imperial’s private facilities in London, creating an additional revenue stream for UK healthcare providers.
The initiative reflects growing efforts to leverage Britain’s healthcare expertise as a strategic export, while generating funds that can be reinvested in the NHS at home.
Marriott toured the Islamabad hospital construction site alongside the UK’s Trade Envoy to Pakistan, Mohammad Yasin MP, who is currently on a three-day visit to the country aimed at promoting trade and investment links between the UK and Pakistan.
During their visit, the delegation met with senior figures from Novacare and its parent company, Andalus Holdings. Among those present were Johannes Kedzierski, Chief Executive of Novacare; Faraz Minai, Director of Novacare and CEO of Andalus Holdings; Ghalib Hafiz, Director of Novacare and Partner at Andalus Holdings; Mustafa Hassan, Director of Novacare; and Qaiser Rafiq, Project Director at Novacare.
The Novacare hospital is located in Islamabad’s DHA Phase V area and is expected to be within a 15-minute drive of the city’s Blue Zone once completed. The hospital is being designed to meet international clinical standards, with a focus on high-quality patient care and advanced medical technology.
The agreement is seen as a significant step in strengthening healthcare ties between the UK and Pakistan, with the potential to deliver long-term benefits for both countries. It underscores the UK government’s strategy of supporting British healthcare institutions to expand their global footprint while ensuring that expertise and resources continue to benefit the NHS and UK patients.
Yasin, the UK’s Trade Envoy to Pakistan, described the project as a “win-win” for both nations. “This collaboration brings the best of British healthcare to Pakistan, supports skills development, and helps the NHS through reinvestment of affiliate fees,” he said.
The partnership builds on Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading academic health science centres. By exporting clinical expertise and fostering international collaborations, Imperial and its partners aim to promote innovation, enhance patient outcomes, and contribute to the sustainability of health services at home and abroad.
The hospital project forms part of a broader trend of British healthcare organisations establishing strategic partnerships across the globe, reinforcing the UK’s position as a leader in medical research, healthcare delivery, and clinical training.
Officials from both the UK and Pakistan have expressed optimism that the collaboration will not only elevate healthcare standards in Pakistan but also create new channels for knowledge exchange, economic growth, and improved patient care in both countries.
