How traditional and modern medicine shape healthcare decisions in Pakistan
Written by Aliza Faisal
Edited by Isabella Castro
Introduction
There are several factors that influence healthcare decisions in Pakistan. Family traditions, cultural views, education, financial situation, accessibility, and past healthcare experiences all impact people's decisions toward taking action with illness. Pakistan has a long history of traditional medicine practices, including herbal remedies, homeopathy, Unani medicine, spiritual healing, and home treatments. Instead of disappearing as modern medicine advances, these traditions are still practiced today, coexisting with pharmacies, hospitals, and contemporary medical experts.
Between the two there is a major connection, as patients do not necessarily choose one system over the other. Some individuals may use a home remedy for minor illness or visit a traditional healer but later consult a doctor if symptoms linger. Research demonstrates that across Pakistan, 51.7% participants had chosen complementary or alternative medicine, while 20% of these participants also used biomedical medicine (Shaikh et al.). This suggests that healthcare decisions in Pakistan are often characterized by combination and movement between different forms of treatment.
Cultural beliefs
Traditional medicine is an important part of healthcare practices in Pakistan. Some popular traditions consist of Unani medicine and homeopathy as well as traditional home remedies.
These practices, specifically home remedies have been passed down through generations and families, emphasizing that healthcare decisions can sometimes be based on knowledge and experiences gathered over generations or several years.
A study was done across urban and rural areas in Pakistan. The study found around 16% participants used homeopathy and 12.4% used Unani medicine. The study also recorded other common practices being used, such as faith healing, home remedies, and other traditional practices (Shaikh et al.) with a combination of complementary medicine with biomedical treatment included in the study. This illustrates that the idea of traditional and modern medicine being in competition is a common misconception, as for some patients, these form part of the same healthcare process.
Another major contributing factor is family influence. Another study done on around 1,280 parents at a Pakistani children's hospital discovered that spiritual methods were used for 55% of the children admitted or outpatient visits in the hospital. Furthermore, maternal figures were reported recommending spiritual methods in 85.9% of medical cases (Awan et al.). These results demonstrate how healthcare choices can be influenced by family members, particularly older generations who might have a stronger understanding of traditional practices.
These cultural practices can affect not only which treatment is selected but also when professional medical care is required. Research done on rural Pakistani communities found that treatment for childhood illness usually began with home remedies or self prescribed
medication. However, this could be impacted by financial limitations or difficulty in perceiving serious symptoms. An additional contribution to delays in seeking professional help could also be based on reliance on home treatment due to comfort levels or external factors. (Rashid et al.).
Education, Socioeconomic status, and Access
As a result, healthcare decisions have a strong connection to socioeconomic circumstances. Modern healthcare usually involves consultation fees, transportation costs, laboratory tests, and medication expenses. These costs can have a dramatic effect on when or how someone decides to take action on medical care.
It is known that Pakistan relies on direct household payments for healthcare. World Bank data based on the World Health Organization’s Global Health Expenditure Database shows that out of pocket spending was calculated roughly for 52.93% of current health expenditure in Pakistan in 2023 (“Out of Pocket Expenditure” ). A World Bank analysis has also estimated that approximately 11% of spendings were made in 2024 (Sohail and Salahudding). These financial pressures means that healthcare can become limited or rare and decisions to not seek professional help become more common.
Therefore, based on their familiarity, pricing, or location, traditional suppliers become more accessible and reliable. 51.9% and 385 patients in public hospitals in Lahore who participated in a study had at least one consultation with a complementary or alternative medicine practitioner. Cost effectiveness was indicated by 59% of those who had done so, accessibility by 40% and the need for fewer appointments by 57.7% (Javed et al.). These
results suggest that treatment choices might be influenced by practical and financial factors in addition to cultural attitudes.
Furthermore, education also plays a significant role in affecting seeking healthcare. A study conducted in two districts in Punjab found that private hospital use was associated with higher education and income, while poorer participants were more likely to use public hospitals. The cost was identified as a constraint by 25% of respondents, while 12% reported transportation difficulties (Mumtaz et al.). More recent research involving 214 guardians in Karachi similarly found that education levels were mostly associated with healthcare decisions for their children. Although 82.7% of parents selected doctors as their first choice, spiritual healers and traditional practices remained a common part of the healthcare choices for some families (Khan et al.).
This research shows that education does not just determine whether someone “believes” in modern medicine. Instead, education can influence awareness, the ability to recognize symptoms, confidence in healthcare providers, and the ability to navigate the healthcare system. Economic resources can further determine whether a preferred treatment is realistically accessible.
The possibility of Coexistence
Evidence suggests that the relationship between traditional and modern medicine in Pakistan is more complex than it may appear. Many people move between different types of healthcare depending on their financials, illness, accessibility or family advice.
This can create both opportunities and challenges. Traditional practices can provide culturally familiar and accessible forms of care, particularly where formal healthcare is difficult to get. However, research has also found that home treatment and traditional practices can sometimes affect how quickly professional medical attention is seeked, usually when serious symptoms are not recognized as well as very slow health improvements (Rashid et al.).
Nevertheless, modern healthcare providers benefit from understanding why patients use traditional medicine rather than ignoring it. A survey of 198 Pakistani medical students found that most participants believed some complementary and alternative medicine practices could be useful but many lacked knowledge about their safety. The majority combined conventional treatments with complementary medicine. (Majeed et al.).
Rather than assuming that traditional practices will disappear or discontinue with increased access to modern medicine, healthcare policy could recognize the reality that many patients already use a mix of both. Better communication between patients and healthcare professionals could also help doctors understand what treatments best fit patients and reduce the risk of harmful interactions or delayed treatments.
Conclusion
Healthcare decisions in Pakistan are shaped by the interaction of traditional beliefs, modern medical knowledge, education, status, and accessibility. Traditional medicine remains a huge part of their culture with research showing huge use of complementary and alternative treatments as well as a combination between both. Modern doctors also inform people that they prefer being the first option for care to many people, especially when serious illness is involved.
The evidence suggests that healthcare choices in Pakistan cannot be explained by culture or economics alone. A family's traditions play a huge factor in their first response to illness, while cost may determine which service is more accessible, education could influence when professional care is considered necessary. These factors operate altogether. This coexistence is important for improving healthcare because efficient healthcare systems must consider not only the treatments available to people but also traditions or beliefs, resources, and social structures that influence whether people choose to use them.
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